ROANOKE, Va. – As winter temperatures drop, Roanoke’s network of existing homeless services has helped reduce the region’s homeless population by 3.2%, while a new task force develops plans for future initiatives.
According to the Blue Ridge Continuum of Care’s January 2025 count, 389 people are currently experiencing homelessness in the region, down from 402 last year. The decrease comes after two years of significant increases, including a record 54% rise in 2023.
“We’ve been able to house over 210 people already,” said Roanoke City Mayor Joe Cobb, crediting the existing network of support services and shelters for the progress…