The Inclement Weather Shelter

On October 11, 2021, Richmond City Council approved $1,781,510 in federal funds to implement a new Inclement Weather Shelter. Commonwealth Catholic Charities (CCC) is collaborating with the City and will operate the new shelter. 

The City’s Department of Housing and Community Development identified several options for the proposed shelter. Option #1, and the preferred choice based on cost effectiveness and capacity, was to assist CCC to expand their facility located on Oliver Hill Way to provide emergency shelter to single adult individuals from inclement weather starting this fall. CCC already provides outreach, meals, and services to persons experiencing homelessness. Additionally, through a partnership with the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) and a contract with the State, CCC currently operates a Non-Congregate Program utilizing local hotels. By expanding their Oliver Hill Way facility, at least 75 individuals seeking shelter may be served.

The new shelter considers the recommendations from the GRCoC’s Seasonal Shelter Taskforce and the City’s 2020-2030 Strategic Plan to End Homelessness.

Funding will support the proposed project, which utilizes a two-prong approach.

The first prong includes operating a temporary shelter site at a local hotel, the Quality Inn. The temporary location will be used until the renovation is completed at Oliver Hill Way. The shelter, while at the temporary site, will operate 12-15 hours per day.

The second prong is the renovation of the permanent site at Oliver Hill Way, which will operate 24/7. 

Services provided at both sites include case management, two meals per day, showers, vaccination opportunities, and the connection to healthcare/counseling and other needed resources, if occupants so choose. In addition, onsite security will be available at both the temporary and permanent sites. The new shelter is anticipated to open in early November.

The overall service delivery and funding strategy for homeless services in the region is the responsibility of the GRCoC. The City appreciates its collaboration with the GRCoC. As a member of the Continuum of Care, it will continue to work in partnership toward the ultimate goal of alleviating homelessness and providing stable, permanent housing options for all residents.

WHAT:          Richmond City Council’s Governmental Operations Standing Committee will hold a work session to discuss the development of proposed Richmond City Charter change requests.
                       
WHEN:          Friday, October 22, 2021, at 10:30 a.m.  

WHERE:        5th Floor Conference Room  Council Chamber, 2nd Floor
                        City Hall
                        900 East Broad Street
                        Richmond, VA 23219

                       The agenda for this work session is accessible on the City’s legislative website by clicking here. 

CONTACT:    For more information, please contact Assistant City Clerk Debra Bowles at 804.646.7955 or Debra.Bowles@rva.gov.

Richmond, VA — The Honorable Mayor Levar M. Stoney proclaimed today October 11 Indigenous Peoples' Day in the City of Richmond and honored representatives from tribes in the region at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

“The fact that we are celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day – not Columbus Day – at this museum and in this city – speaks volumes as to how far we’ve come,” said Mayor Levar M. Stoney. “The fact that this is only our third year doing so tells us that we have a ways to go.”

Mayor Stoney was joined by VMHC President Jamie O. Bosket, members of Richmond City Council, and members of the Cheroenhaka, Nottoway, Mattaponi, and Patawomeck Tribes.

Mayor Stoney recognized the resilience and impact of Indigenous people who contribute to our community as lawyers, artists, doctors, businesspersons, public servants, and spiritual leaders.

Dr. Sheila K. Wilson Elliott, Foundation Chair of the Nottoway Tribe, brought greetings by sharing words from the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address Greetings to the Natural World. 

“We bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people. Now our minds are one,” Dr. Elliot said. “We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life.”   

“Indigenous peoples are some of our most ingenious peoples,” said Mayor Stoney. “We are a more inclusive, stronger and better city because of them. And as Mayor as this Great City, I thank them.”

Event live-steam can be found here.  

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The city’s American Rescue Plan Act budget amendment was introduced at last night’s formal meeting of Richmond City Council. The amendment outlines the proposed allocation of $77.5 million from the federal government, the first half of the total amount of funding ($155 million) allotted to the city.

The final spending plan is a product of consensus reached between the administration and Council. Because the plan is a budget amendment, it cannot be amended.

“This final plan represents a blueprint for building back better and stronger through strategic, intentional and equitable investments that deliver on the promise of a quality of life our residents want, need and deserve,” said Mayor Levar M. Stoney.

“I’d like to thank the members of Richmond City Council for their insight and collaboration to use this funding to make significant advances in affordable housing, health and the well-being of our children and families.”

The overall spending proposal includes:

• $32 million to build back affordable and healthy homes, including $20 million for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, meeting the goal established in the Equity Agenda and supported by City Council four years ahead of schedule.

• $5 million for a Health Equity fund, managed by the Richmond City Health District through an MOU with the city. The fund would support ongoing COVID-19 response, maternal and infant health, food access, mental and behavioral health, and more.

• $81 million invested in children and families, residents’ top priority in the first round of public engagement, with $2 million for childcare and $78 million for funding community centers including: T.B. Smith Community Center, Southside Community Center, Calhoun Center and a new center on the current site of Lucks Field.

The plan also includes $19 million to plan for and address climate and environmental challenges in the city, an $8.5 million investment in public safety, and $5.9 million in economic supports.

Changes implemented in the month since the Mayor’s announcement of the draft plan include:

• Shifting $3 million from lead line replacement to a dedicated CDFI revolving loan fund to support small businesses.
• Transferring $1 million from storm water infrastructure (originally $13.5 M) to the Family Crisis Fund, which will provide $1 million in immediate economic relief for families.

The city gathered feedback on the draft plan from September 21 to October 4 and reached 1,300 individuals - 51.4% through digital engagement and 48.6% through in-person or phone conversations. When given the chance to add or remove something from the plan, an average of 75% of responses per category elected not to; 25% of responses proposed changes.

To read the full plan and find details on the public engagement period, please visit www.rva.gov/arp.

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Media Advisory
Monday, October 11, 2021
Contact: Devin Wood
Cell: 804-484-4800
Devin.Wood@rva.gov

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond has launched a new website to start marketing the redevelopment of the 66.7 acre Diamond site on North Arthur Ashe Boulevard. The new website precedes a Request for Interest (RFI) that will be released by the city before the end of 2021. The city has also created a new webpage on RVA.gov to keep citizens informed on the vision, process, and opportunity for the redevelopment site. Both websites will have documents associated with the RFI process after the RFI is released.

“The Diamond site is the premier redevelopment opportunity on the east coast and presents a transformational opportunity for Richmond,” said Maritza Mercado Pechin, Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Development Review and leader of the city’s Office of Equitable Development. “Residents were clear in communicating their desires for the redevelopment of the site in Richmond 300 and the Greater Scott’s Addition Small Area Plan. Generating interest in the redevelopment opportunity and issuing the RFI are the next steps to see the shared vision become a reality.”

The marketing website can be found at www.rvadiamond.com.

The new webpage on RVA.gov can be found at www.rva.gov/economic-development/diamond.

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