ROANOKE, Va. – Homelessness declined before the COVID-19 pandemic but has since become a growing problem in Roanoke. Monday, Mayor Joe Cobb unveiled the members and mission of a new task force aimed at tackling the issue.
“Our goal isn’t just to house everyone in Roanoke City,” Cobb said. “We would love for people to have a home in the Roanoke Valley, in the Blue Ridge region. Everybody needs a place to call home.”
The Hope and Home Task Force will examine data and investigate possible resource gaps in finding the best solutions to the issue. It is made up of a wide range of stakeholders, from members of nonprofits that seek to help the homeless population to public health officials…