Charlottesville nonprofit leaders held a webinar Wednesday evening on homelessness in the city. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
At any given time, there are 240 to 270 people experiencing homelessness in the greater Charlottesville area, according to Anthony Haro – the executive director of the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless. Haro and Laura DeLapp, the day shelter manager at The Haven, spoke about recent trends they've observed. DeLapp said she's seen about a 35% increase in total guest visits this year.
LAURA DELAPP: … More and more women, for the same reasons – experiencing mental illness, drug addictions, assaults, various forms of trauma. … These are mothers. These are women that had careers.
They said one problem that's driving up the length of stays in local shelters is a lack of available units once someone does get a housing voucher or rental assistance.
And there's a racial disparity here – Black residents account for 18% of the city's population, but 48% of those experiencing homelessness.
Facilitator Matthew Gillikin, who co-chairs the organization Livable Cville, brought up some locals' frustrations about people camping out downtown.
MATTHEW GILLIKIN: There is a common approach … that the way we solve homelessness, particularly around the downtown mall, is to increase the police presence.
DELAPP: … Adding police for safety is fine. However, these individuals that are experiencing homelessness are also a part of this community, and they too have the right to feel that they are safe, and not being targeted.
The full discussion is available on Youtube.
