Richmond continues to see higher rates of homelessness
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A significant number of people in the Richmond region are experiencing homelessness, according to the twice yearly census of the region's homeless population released Friday.
Why it matters: The pandemic reversed a decadelong decline in the region's homelessness and led to a sharp increase in its unsheltered population.
Be smart: Homelessness is defined as someone living in shelters or temporary housing and includes unsheltered people, which means people who are sleeping outside, in a car or another place not meant for human habitation.
State of play: The total number of people experiencing homelessness in the region is 585, per the July head count conducted by Homeward on behalf of the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC).
- That's down from the 681 counted in January's snapshot but higher than the 486 locals who were without permanent housing last summer.
- That's compared to the 549 counted in January 2020, just before the start of the pandemic.
- The summer counts tend to be lower than the ones in January, per an Axios review.
Zoom in: Of those, GRCoC found 267 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in July.
- That's a sharp increase from the 206 unsheltered people counted in the region in January and 181 last summer.
Threat level: More than half of locals experiencing homelessness got there due the breakdown in relationships (30%) or an economic hardship, including a job (21%) or due to the high cost of housing (11%), per Homeward.
- Evictions, which are often trigged due to high housing cost or other economic strains, accounted for 13% homeless cases, per the nonprofit's survey.
What they're saying: "It's important to remember that these numbers represent real people facing the trauma of homelessness," Kelly King Horne, Homeward's executive director, said in a statement.
- "These are our neighbors, the vast majority of whom have lived in our region for many years."
What's next: In response to the sharp rise in unsheltered homelessness, Homeward is launching a regional task force to address the issue.
- Around a dozen members from local governments and homeless service agencies are expected to form the task force and develop targeted policy and program recommendations that Homeward hopes to release this fall.