Emergency Shelter Funding

At a glance

• What: Council funded winter shelter capacity and renewed the operation of emergency shelters. September 28: $844,143.00 moved from Neighborhood and Community Services to new Outside Agencies lines for CARITAS ($726,143.00 surge overflow shelter, $118,000.00 warming center) for the inclement winter season (Ordinance 2026-204), and $100,000.00 moved to Area Congregations Together in Service to administer the Family Crisis Fund (2026-203). October 13: a further $700,000.00 moved from the Presbyterian Homes and Family Services line to Area Congregations Together in Service for the Family Crisis Fund (2026-282), and four shelter agreements were approved.
• Where it stands: All adopted: 2026-203 and 2026-204 on September 28; 2026-282 and the shelter agreements on October 13, 2026.
• Next: None; adopted.

Detail

• Shelter agreements (October 13): 2026-284, first lease amendment with Potomac Area Hostels, Inc. to continue a 50-bed year-round emergency shelter at a North 2nd Street City building; 2026-285, second sublease amendment with HomeAgain Richmond to continue a 50-bed year-round family shelter at the same site; 2026-289, second amendment to the grant contract with Emergency Shelter, Inc. (HomeAgain) extending the term through November 30, 2027, with three optional one-year extensions. 2026-283 also funded the SAARA of Virginia Alive RVA Warm Line (SAARA grant contract).
• All sponsored by Mayor Avula. The October items were introduced at the October 5 special meeting and referred to the Education and Human Services Standing Committee (October 8).

Sources

• City Council action summary, October 13, 2026: https://richmondva.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1354768&GUID=E93DB910-0CF2-434C-BB5A-05A78CAEA725
• City Council action summary, October 5, 2026 (special meeting): https://richmondva.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1452853&GUID=EC2C67CA-D9D4-4753-87E6-2B41AC9FE8A8
• City Council action summary, September 28, 2026: https://richmondva.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1354767&GUID=A1E8F936-2014-4EE7-934B-E47C3001605A
• City Council action summary, September 14, 2026: https://richmondva.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1354766&GUID=14E9DEED-8E84-4233-9122-53BA8FDCA83C

Log

2026-10-13 - City Council

2026-282 ($700,000 Family Crisis Fund), 2026-283 (Warm Line grant), 2026-284, 2026-285 and 2026-289 (shelter agreements) adopted.

2026-10-05 - City Council Special Meeting

Items 2026-282 to 2026-285 and 2026-289 introduced and referred to the Education and Human Services Standing Committee (October 8).

2026-09-28 - City Council

2026-203 ($100,000 Family Crisis Fund administration) and 2026-204 ($844,143 CARITAS surge shelter and warming center) adopted.

2026-09-14 - City Council

2026-203 and 2026-204 introduced and referred to the Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee.