Report: Hundreds of homeless Richmond-area students live in hotels
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Hotels have become an increasingly common last resort for Richmond-area families experiencing homelessness, according to a new report from Henrico-based advocacy group Housing Families First.
Why it matters: Hotels are increasingly filling the gap for local families who may be able to afford monthly rent but can't overcome the barriers to securing long-term housing.
- Those barriers can include security deposits, past-due bills and sometimes a complicated rental application process, per the report.
By the numbers: Of the 2,854 students experiencing homelessness across Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield in 2022-23, the latest year available, about 830 — or 29% — were living in hotels or motels, per SchoolHouse Connection data cited in the report.
- The share increased in all three localities between 2019-20 and 2022-23.
- Henrico: 20.4% ➡️ 32.8%
- Richmond: 16.6% ➡️ 26.6%
- Chesterfield: 19.1% ➡️ 26.6%
- Statewide: 15.9% ➡️ 21.5%
Zoom out: In all, 904 local families — representing more than 3,000 adults and children — received homeless services between July 2025 and June 2026 after becoming homeless or coming within three days of losing their housing.
Zoom in: The average rent in Richmond is $1,587, per the report citing Apartments.com data.
- A month at an extended stay hotel in town runs around $1,900-$2,300 per month, per stats from hotel aggregator WoodSpring Suites.
State of play: The report points to several pressures making housing harder for local families to hold onto.
- The region's population grew 18% between 2010 and 2025, increasing competition for housing.
- Housing costs rose 40% between 2020 and 2025, while average hourly wages grew 28%.
- Meanwhile, families are also contending with higher costs for basics like food, utilities and gas.
The good news: The report says early intervention can help families avoid hotels and shelters altogether.
- That can include school-based support, housing coaching and help navigating barriers to permanent housing.
Want to help? Homeward has a list of Richmond-area nonprofits doing this work and ways to support local families in need.