A critical step in this campaign involves personal surveys of homeless people; the surveys are administered by carefully trained volunteers and professional team leaders from outreach organizations. Mia Whybrow of VCDC participated in the campaign as a survey volunteer and spoke at a press conference held in Richmond on August 5. "What strikes me whe
n listening to the stories of folks who live on the street is that many of these people face the same problems that you and I face; the difference is that people on the street do not have a strong support system from family, friends, and community, and they do not have the same opportunities that others are afforded." Mia spoke specifically about Joe, a 45-year-old man who sleeps in a dumpster on Broad Street. "Joe is a charming man; I had the opportunity to talk with him at sunrise on Wednesday. Joe once loved to read Tom Clancy novels, but now his vision is too poor for reading. Joe grew up riding horses in Florida, joined the rodeo, broke his neck, recovered from that severe injury, then moved to North Carolina and started a successful landscaping business. Joe became a deacon at his church. He fell in love with Patty Ann. Joe and Patty Ann were engaged to be married. And then Patty Ann was killed in a car accident. Joe basically fell apart after Patty Ann's death. Joe suffers from numerous health problems and has been living on the street in Richmond for 3 years. It is my hope that Joe and people like him will be housed permanently as a result of this campaign."

Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH), a longtime partner of VCDC and statewide nonprofit housing developer, lead the Richmond campaign along with VCEH on August 1-5. 196 unsheltered people were surveyed. 97 people were identified as chronically homeless and medically vulnerable; almost half of that number were identified as tri-morbid (at risk of dying on the street as a result of physical and mental health issues along with substance abuse.) At Friday's community briefing, VSH made a public commitment to house at least 45 of the individuals who were surveyed. Several of these folks will find new homes at VSH's Studios at South Richmond, a new construction development on Hull Street. VCDC's Housing Equity Fund of Virginia XIV, LLC and Housing Equity Fund of Virginia XV, LLC invested $2,158,000 in the Studios at South Richmond. The Funds have committed $5,000 to VSH's Adopt-A-Room program.The Studios will offer furnished efficiency-style apartments and supportive services for 21 individuals. The original adjacent development is also a partnership between VCDC & VSH-South Richmond Single Room Occupancy (SRO)-an adaptive reuse of a former Budget Motel offering 39 furnished apartments as well as supportive services provided by VSH.

WATCH CBS RICHMOND CHANNEL 6/WTVR'S NEWS COVERAGE OF THE 1,000 HOMES FOR 1,000 VIRGINIANS CAMPAIGN. THIS NEWSCAST AIRED ON AUGUST 5 AND FEATURES MIA WHYBROW OF VCDC and ALICE TOUSIGNANT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VIRGINIA SUPPORTIVE HOUSING:  

Homelessness In Richmond

 
 Arlington, Hampton Roads, Roanoke and Fredericksburg are expected to participate in the 1,000 Homes campaign later this year.

Contact these partners for more information:

VCEH 

Virginia Supportive Housing

Click here for more information about the 100,000 Homes for 100,000 Americans Campaign

For more information about this story, please contact Mia Whybrow, Director of Asset Management, VCDC: mwhybrow@vacdc.org or 804-343-1200 ext. 133.