‘We have to do better. This is unacceptable’: Richmond outreach organization calling on community to assist the homeless amid freezing temperatures
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Two Richmond City residents are continuing outreach efforts to provide greater resources to the homeless amid frigid temperatures. "It's crazy because [you have] some who feel that they want to stay under the radar and then you have some who desperately need assistance," said George Williams, of Richmond. "For me, it doesn't matter why they are out there, if they choose to be, if they have to be --they're out there," said Carol Williams, of Richmond. "No matter how many blankets they put on, when it's 20 degrees outside, you cannot get warm." Husband and wife George and Carol Williams first began 'Share the Warmth RVA' in 2023. The two were driving down Hull Street on their way home and saw people who were sleeping on the steps of a church. "I said, 'George are people up there sleeping?' He said, 'Yeah that's one of the places they sleep' and I said, 'It's freezing up there they can't sleep up there like that," Carol Williams said. The two then went home, gathered every blanket they could, even off of their own bed, and went back to the people on the steps and blanketed them. This began their mission. "I said, 'You know what, we have to do better. This is unacceptable," Carol Williams said. 8News had the chance to meet people who helped the Williamses in their mission, and they knew firsthand what it was like feeling homeless. "That's when you get all types of thoughts...bad thoughts, you know?" said Gregory Price, of Richmond. Jennifer Bevers currently lives with the Williamses but explained her trials as a mother of a then six-year-old last year being homeless. "Trying to take care of a six-year-old...hurts so bad and having everyone look at you like you're nothing," Bevers said. "I did not have a period for four years because of the amount of stress I was going under." 8News continued to hear the testimonies of many others in the room and could not help but notice the room next door filled with donations. For more than one year, the Williamses have been collecting all sorts of donations to help with their cause from blankets to a variety of clothing, as well as food and funding. They have recently thought "outside-of-the-box" and created an Amazon Wish list where people can buy items such as battery-powered-heated blankets, sleeping bags, tents and more to aid in maximizing the donations available to the community. The efforts the two add are because they see a greater need despite what is being offered by city officials. 8News reached out to officials with the City of Richmond who sent a statement of resources available to those in need: Homeless services are coordinated regionally through the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, yet the City of Richmond remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing homelessness. This commitment is evidenced through the City’s significant additional investments which include standing up a new 100-bed inclement weather shelter for single adult men and women and a new 50-bed year-round men’s shelter both under the operation of The Salvation Army. In addition to a new year-round 50 bed family shelter under the operation of Home Again. On any given night, upwards of 1,000 people are sheltered across the region in homeless and domestic violence shelters, recovery houses and in permanent supportive housing. The city’s recent investments add to this capacity. Most recently, in FY25 (2024), the City of Richmond created a new Office of Homeless Services and launched the City’s Community Resource and Training Center---both of which are co-located with the inclement weather shelter operated by the Salvation Army. The Community Resource and Training Center supports Richmond residents experiencing hardship and housing insecurity by connecting them to services, resources, and case management to support their path to stabilization. Additionally, residents receive support navigating existing housing and human services resources. The walk-in center will provides a safe environment for anyone to tell their story to a well-informed human services navigator and receive a warm referral to the system of care in the region that is best equipped to help them with their unique needs, including coordinated homeless services, affordable housing resources, and eviction prevention and diversion programs. Resource Center Navigators will soon also host and work collaboratively with an adjunct corps of case managers and service providers from the behavioral health, social services, healthcare, employment, and homeless services systems to provide a rotating array of services and training opportunities. Through a partnership with the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, the Community Resource and Training Center has a full-time behavioral health clinician and case manager. The city is also investing heavily in mitigating homelessness, with the most significant investment in its history, including a more than $1M investment in the City’s Family Crisis F
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Two Richmond City residents are continuing outreach efforts to provide greater resources to the homeless amid frigid temperatures.
"It's crazy because [you have] some who feel that they want to stay under the radar and then you have some who desperately need assistance," said George Williams, of Richmond.
"For me, it doesn't matter why they are out there, if they choose to be, if they have to be --they're out there," said Carol Williams, of Richmond. "No matter how many blankets they put on, when it's 20 degrees outside, you cannot get warm."
Husband and wife George and Carol Williams first began 'Share the Warmth RVA' in 2023.
The two were driving down Hull Street on their way home and saw people who were sleeping on the steps of a church.
"I said, 'George are people up there sleeping?' He said, 'Yeah that's one of the places they sleep' and I said, 'It's freezing up there they can't sleep up there like that," Carol Williams said.
The two then went home, gathered every blanket they could, even off of their own bed, and went back to the people on the steps and blanketed them. This began their mission.
"I said, 'You know what, we have to do better. This is unacceptable," Carol Williams said.
8News had the chance to meet people who helped the Williamses in their mission, and they knew firsthand what it was like feeling homeless.
"That's when you get all types of thoughts...bad thoughts, you know?" said Gregory Price, of Richmond.
Jennifer Bevers currently lives with the Williamses but explained her trials as a mother of a then six-year-old last year being homeless.
"Trying to take care of a six-year-old...hurts so bad and having everyone look at you like you're nothing," Bevers said. "I did not have a period for four years because of the amount of stress I was going under."
8News continued to hear the testimonies of many others in the room and could not help but notice the room next door filled with donations.
For more than one year, the Williamses have been collecting all sorts of donations to help with their cause from blankets to a variety of clothing, as well as food and funding.
They have recently thought "outside-of-the-box" and created an Amazon Wish list where people can buy items such as battery-powered-heated blankets, sleeping bags, tents and more to aid in maximizing the donations available to the community.
The efforts the two add are because they see a greater need despite what is being offered by city officials.
8News reached out to officials with the City of Richmond who sent a statement of resources available to those in need:
Homeless services are coordinated regionally through the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, yet the City of Richmond remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing homelessness. This commitment is evidenced through the City’s significant additional investments which include standing up a new 100-bed inclement weather shelter for single adult men and women and a new 50-bed year-round men’s shelter both under the operation of The Salvation Army. In addition to a new year-round 50 bed family shelter under the operation of Home Again. On any given night, upwards of 1,000 people are sheltered across the region in homeless and domestic violence shelters, recovery houses and in permanent supportive housing. The city’s recent investments add to this capacity.
Most recently, in FY25 (2024), the City of Richmond created a new Office of Homeless Services and launched the City’s Community Resource and Training Center---both of which are co-located with the inclement weather shelter operated by the Salvation Army. The Community Resource and Training Center supports Richmond residents experiencing hardship and housing insecurity by connecting them to services, resources, and case management to support their path to stabilization. Additionally, residents receive support navigating existing housing and human services resources. The walk-in center will provides a safe environment for anyone to tell their story to a well-informed human services navigator and receive a warm referral to the system of care in the region that is best equipped to help them with their unique needs, including coordinated homeless services, affordable housing resources, and eviction prevention and diversion programs. Resource Center Navigators will soon also host and work collaboratively with an adjunct corps of case managers and service providers from the behavioral health, social services, healthcare, employment, and homeless services systems to provide a rotating array of services and training opportunities. Through a partnership with the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, the Community Resource and Training Center has a full-time behavioral health clinician and case manager.
The city is also investing heavily in mitigating homelessness, with the most significant investment in its history, including a more than $1M investment in the City’s Family Crisis Fund. This fund assists residents in financial crises and aids them on their path to financial stability by providing rental assistance and assistance with home and care repairs and medical bills. Working collaboratively, we will continue to work towards solutions to address homelessness and move residents from crisis to thriving.
Richmond is grateful for Henrico County’s partnership in helping combat homelessness in the region with an investment of more than $800K to support the partnership with the Salvation Army and Home Again. Understanding that homelessness affects not just one locality but all localities, Henrico’s investment is a bold statement of solidarity in addressing this issue.
Background Information:
On November 13, 2023, the City Council authorized the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Lincoln Saunders, to execute the grant contract between the City of Richmond and the Salvation Army to operationalize the inclement weather shelter at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue from December 1, 2023, through April 15, 2024. Additionally, the City Council authorized the CAO to allocate funding for the HomeAgain Emergency Shelter, thereby operationalizing the new 50-bed, year-round shelter for families. To date, the total funding for both shelters is approximately $2.4M.
On Thursday, November 30, 2023, the City of Richmond announced the opening of the Inclement Weather Shelter, operated by the Salvation Army, located at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue, and the Family Shelter, operated by Home Again, located at 7 North 2nd Street. With this announcement, 200 additional beds have been added to help ensure that our unhoused population has a place to rest their heads.
What you need to know about each City/Henrico County supported shelters. Please note that there are other homeless services providers and shelters that support residents across the region.
1900 Chamberlayne Avenue – the Inclement Weather Shelter
- Operates November 15-December 15 annually (5:00 PM-8:00 AM daily)
- Access: Walk-Up Access/First Come First Services
- Capacity: 100 beds (60 single men/40 single women 18 and over)
1900 Chamberlayne Avenue – Shelter for Single Males
- Year-Round
- Access: Regional Coordinated Entry System (GRCoC’s Homeless Connection Line at 804-972-0813)
- Capacity: 50 beds (single men/18 and over)
7 North 2nd Street – Family Shelter
- Year-Round
- Access: Regional Coordinated Entry System (GRCoC’s Homeless Connection Line at 804-972-0813)
- Capacity: 50 beds (families of all compositions/no age minimums or maximums)
City of Richmond’s Community Resource and Training Center: 804-646-3111 or Homeless@rva.gov
Co-located with the newly formed Office of Homeless Services, the City of Richmond’s Community Resource and Training Center supports Richmond residents experiencing hardship and housing insecurity - especially the unsheltered - by connecting them to services, resources, and navigation to support their path to stabilization. Resource Center Navigators work collaboratively with an adjunct corps of case managers and service providers from the behavioral health, social services, healthcare, employment, and homeless services systems to provide a rotating array of services and training opportunities. The Resource Center is a Greater Richmond Continuum of Care Connection Point.
Emergencies: 911
To report non-emergency crime or suspicious incidents: 804-646-5100 and press option 1.
Homeless Connection Line: 804-972-0813
Managed by Homeward, the Homeless Connection Line (HCL) facilitates access to resources and shelter alternatives for those who are three days or less away from losing their housing. This line is also available for those already experiencing homelessness. The HCL hours are 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Housing Resource Line: 804-422-5061
Managed by the Partnership for Housing Affordability, the Housing Resource Line (HRL) is a centralized access point to connect residents to programs and services that will help address their housing needs. The HRL is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The HRL directs residents to resources and services. The line does not, however, provide direct resources and services.
EmpowerNet Hotline: 804-612-6126
A collaborative effort of six organizations, the 24/7 EmpowerNet Hotline offers access to free, confidential, live trauma-specialists that connect residents to crisis intervention, emergency shelter, counseling, case management, and hospital-based services.
Eviction Diversion Program:
Managed by Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation, the Eviction Diversion Program assists qualified Richmond residents facing eviction who have a pending court date that is no less than 10 days away. For more information visit: scdhc.com/eviction-diversion-program. Tamara Jenkins, Public Information Officer, City of Richmond
"If we can get a quarter of the money that the city is funneling into organizations, we would have every single person [helped] in the Southside, I promise," Carol Williams said.
