Many times our unsheltered citizens are left out of the planning during vulnerable conditions that affect the community. The most recent chain of events was eye opening to the fact that resources are not available to those WITH shelter, so surely they are not available to those without.  However, millions flow through this area on behalf of homeless/unsheltered programs. The Central Virginia region DOES NOT have a 24 HOUR emergency shelter with immediate resources to address BASIC needs when living out of a bag or vehicle.  Instead, our homeless/unsheltered are shuffled through a verification system that rolls into days, weeks or months before approval documents even leave the desks of those involved behind the scenes. During which the homeless are left to fend for themselves wondering hopelessly and sleeping carefully on the streets of our city with their children and belongings in tow. Hungry and dirty as most with mental issues become undone and those with substance abuse issues slip into their dark places. All the while buildings such as the Annie Giles Community Center originally established as the cold weather shelter sit equipped and EMPTY because the Council person in that district refuses the use for which it was intended. The result…. loitering or in some cases crimes of survival. 

THIS is the area that needs your attention. THIS is the black hole where funding, processes and people are not being monitored or well represented.  We are asking our State and Local leaders to create a method to monitor the non-profits that are a part of the Homeless Continuum of Care Network on a monthly or quarterly basis as well as ANY organization or network that presents themselves as a solution and receives government funding. This particular network has received millions in funding for decades, yet local programs or the lack thereof continue to be dysfunctional in this area. There's no clear path to permanent housing STILL years later, only red tape and circles created by a group who all share the same corporate representation on their Boards and all pull from the same source of funding managed by Homeward since 1998. This network continues to operate on an “as needed basis” instead of being proactive in their solutions OR in an effort to reduce the number of those lined up to receive assistance, the network create so many processes that most give up out of confusion and frustration.  Not so much as an emergency 24 hour shelter has been built or supported by this group. The funding received by this network for years has served as reliable income to many local departments to include our very own Richmond Police, yet measurable outcomes are minimal and in most cases fraudulent.  Numbers don't lie!  Studies show, contrary to what has been reported to the state by this network, the number of homeless in this area has continued to rise over the years. In most cases their numbers are not inclusive of ALL homeless represented in this area. Sure their numbers will show success stories of people being placed in permanent housing but how many of those placed are STILL housed? Most due to the lack of addressing their mental or substance abuse issues are back in the street in as little as 3-6 mos.  No effort is being placed into case management before these people are plopped into an unfamiliar environment, left again to fend for resources and/or guidance. As the most recent job losses and evictions caused by Covid-19 will increase our homeless numbers, NOW is a good time to review ALL processes as additional millions continue to funnel through this area in support of those affected by Covid. Let's make sure this money is being used for the purpose intended and not moved into accounts that support special interests of our local leaders. Unless of course their interest is to actually provide an Emergency 24 HOUR Shelter that will address ALL needs associated with sustainability. This petition is hereby presented and supported by the following signatures.  Statistics and scenarios are available by request.