At its May 4 meeting, Charlottesville City Council received an update on “The State of Homelessness” from a coalition of service providers. Led by continuum-of-care coordinator Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless, the conversation covered everything from the latest data on the local unhoused population to ambitious plans for shelter and housing programs.
Every service provider who spoke noted an increase in the number of people needing help in the last year, and how the area’s network of nonprofits is stretched beyond their capacity and resources.
“The cost of living going up, and rents going up, and wages not following accordingly, those economic pressures are getting so, so strong that we are seeing more and more folks enter our system of care,” said Owen Brennan, executive director of The Haven, ahead of the presentation. “It is really critical that we have a strong system of care now, as the need increases and our need to begin scaling our response increases as well.”…