Norfolk’s main emergency homeless shelter received $850,000 in federal funding on Monday. U.S. Representative Bobby Scott delivered the money to the city to overhaul the facility on Tidewater Drive, known as The Center.
The facility has 50 rooms and 100 beds. It was an Econo Lodge motel that the city refurbished, and is operated by the Norfolk Community Services Board (CSB). In addition to providing year-round emergency beds, the location offers vital daytime services, outreach case management and extreme weather overflow spaces for unhoused single adults.
Local leaders highlighted the investment as a critical step forward for the city’s sheltering infrastructure. Mayor Kenny Alexander said the $850,000 will bring essential upgrades that improve the facility’s day sheltering and overflow capacity, strengthening the city’s ability to provide localized services…