Richmond moves forward with expanding Chamberlayne Avenue homeless shelter

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Richmond City Council voted Monday night to make a historic investment that could change homelessness in the area. It comes in the form of $7 million on the city’s end, which the Salvation Army Central Virginia Command (CVAC) will match with at least $8 million.

The funds would help turn the shelter at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue into the “Center of Hope.” The renovated space would come with three main changes. It would have more beds, a community resource center, and the ability to be open year-round.

Right now, the site is only open in the colder months, closing in the middle of April. Now, it will open back up May 1, though the rest of the additions will be implemented in the coming years.

With the money, Salvation Army will be able to add 50 more beds, something it has already seen it needs. Though the Chamberlayne Avenue site just opened, CVAC’s executive director of Programs says they have already seen around 600 people come to it.

The resource center in it would be run by the city, as a part of its long-term plan to help homelessness in the city. The goal is for it to have mental health support, mentorships, substance abuse counseling and more at the site. It would be a place to help people experiencing homelessness, and those at risk of it.

“This helps to provide relief, but really the goal is permanent, stable housing for all people who are experiencing homelessness. And so, that’s what I think the resource center can do with the city of Richmond and that’s certainly what we hope to do,” CVAC Executive Director of Programs Stephen Batsche said.

Batsche says it would be a transformational rather than transactional approach and the city agreeing to move forward with the plan is a big step to getting there. He says Salvation Army has the next few years to raise the matching funds, and then renovations can start.

Council President Kristen Nye mentioned how it is an idea now, but there is a lot of great potential for it.

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