We have the solutions to end homelessness. Now we must act. We must respond first with housing.
Across Virginia, communities are accepting that homelessness is solvable. 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians is a statewide initiative - led by the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness and in partnership with local communities - to house 1,000 of the most vulnerable Virginians experiencing homelessness.
National research has demonstrated that chronic health conditions exacerbated by life on the streets increases risk of premature death. For those living on the streets with chronic health conditions, their life expectancies are reduced by 25 years less than the average American.
The 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians initiative aims to identify the most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness by compiling information using a tool called the Vulnerability Index, rank their conditions by severity, and then systematically house them before their homelessness causes them to die. Our statewide initiative is a part of the national movement - 100,000 Homes - that has swept the country with hundreds of communities joining.
Eight communities representing 30 jurisdictions across the state have joined the 1,000 Homes initiative:
- CENTRAL VIRGINIA: Richmond
- HAMPTON ROADS: Peninsula: Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, York County, James City County, Poquoson; South Hampton Roads: Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Western Tidewater (Suffolk, Isle of Wright County, Franklin and Southampton County)
- NORTHERN VIRGINIA: Arlington, Prince William County, Fairfax County
- VALLEY: Harrisonburg & Rockingham County
- SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA: Roanoke, Martinsville and Henry County
For more information on 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians, contact Robin Gahan at 804-938-1982 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Important Links:
- Statewide Medical Vulnerability Information
- Facts about the 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians Initiative
- The national 100,000 Homes campaign
Media Coverage:
- 100,000 Homes Campaign supercharges housing process, The New York Times, September 12, 2012
- Fairfax receives recognition for collaboration with 1,000 Homes, Region III Hudline News, September 6, 2012
- Arlington Gets Praise In First Year of '100 Homes' Campaign, ARL Now, July 26, 2012
- County Honored for Successes in Ending Homelessness, Sun Gazette, July 24, 2012
- Inside the Plan to Get 100,000 Homeless Off the Streets, Smithsonian Magazine, June 2012
- A great start to ending homelessness, The Virginian-Pilot, May 20, 2012
- Richmond's homeless count fall, Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 23, 2012
- Homeless will be counting on volunteers of April survey, Virginian-Pilot, March 10, 2012
- Statewide efforts gain steam in Virginia, nationally, 100K Homes, January 9, 2012 (printable version here)
- Give to the Max - I'm Not Invisible on 100 Homes Arlington Campaign, November 2, 2011
- Sun Gazette - Homeless Advocates Getting Clearer Picture of Those Who Live on Streets, October 27, 2011
- Rosslyn - Arlington's Registry Week Homeless Population Snapshot, October 26, 2011
- Washington Post - Group Conducts Survey to Aid Homelessness in Arlington County, October 26, 2011
- WUSA9 - 100 Homes for 100 Arlingtonians, October 21, 2011
- Washington Examiner - Arlington identifying 'most vulnerable' for free housing, October 21, 2011
- Washington Post - Arlington starts campaign to help homeless, September 21, 2011
- American University Radio, WAMU 88.5 - Arlington 100 Homes, September 14, 2011
- Richmond Times Dispatch Opinion - 1,000 Virginians: Homeless, August 14, 2011
- NBC12 - Volunteers Sizing Up Richmond Homeless, August 7, 2011
- WTVR coverage of Richmond's Registry Week, August 5, 2011
- Richmond Times Dispatch - Volunteers, Organizations survey homeless to find mortality risk, August 2, 2011
- Richmond Times Dispatch coverage of 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians - Richmond, March 31, 2011
- Style Weekly article on 1,000 Homes Richmond
- Channel 8 coverage of 1,000 Homes Richmond
- Channel 6 coverage of 1,000 Homes Richmond
