VCEH gets around the state to visit with our partners, attend events, facilitate or host meetings, and more. Here’s a recap of where we’ve been!
January 2012
Richmond for the 2012 General Assembly session to meet with state legislators to advocate for long term solutions to preventing and ending homelessness including the amendment to increase funds for homeless programs (permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing), the amendment to increase funds for supportive services tied to permanent supportive housing, and the Virginia Housing Trust Fund.
Richmond for Housing Advocacy Day in which nearly 75 advocates and housing and homelessness providers gathered to learn about the issues and visit with their legislators.
Front Royal for a meeting with the Northern Shenandoah Valley Continuum of Care for the kick off of the development of a regional ten year plan. VCEH will assist in the development of the plan and guide the process.
Newport News for a presentation to the Hampton Roads Housing Consortium for a meeting on 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians, the public-private partnership on rapid re-housing, and state policy issues.
Richmond for the convening of Nonprofit Virginia launch event and strategy session to assess how nonprofits in Virginia can better advocate for critical human services.
December 2011
Harrisonburg, Roanoke, Abingdon, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, and Fairfax for the Ending Child and Family Homelessness in Virginia Initiative Regional Opening Events.
Richmond for the Housing Trust Fund Breakfast Forum and meeting with Mary Brooks, the Director of the Housing Trust Fund Project and leading expert on trust funds for more than 25 years.
November 2011
Richmond for the 1,000 Homes Statewide Meeting for a day of networking, workshops, and an opportunity to share lessons learned in organizing local Registry Weeks and 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians initiatives.
Roanoke for a meeting about Roanoke’s participation in 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians.
Martinsville for the unveiling of their regional ten year plan.
Richmond for the convening of VCEH’s Legislative Advocacy Committee.
Hampton for the Governor’s Housing Conference in which VCEH’s new rapid re-housing family initiative was announced by Governor McDonnell.
On the phone for a meeting with homeless coalitions in other states about how we can coordinate our efforts to achieve greater national impact.
Richmond for a meeting with Delegate Chris Jones to discuss the importance of a Virginia Housing Trust Fund and to request his support.
On the air to address "Why in 2011 in the United States of America are our Most Vulnerable Citizens Homeless?" at 97.3 WRIR - Richmond Independent Radio.
Richmond for a meeting on Virginia HUD-VASH hosted by the HUD Richmond Field Office and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to discuss experiences in housing homeless Veterans and to provide an opportunity to allow Public Housing Authorities (PHA) and VA Medical Centers to work more effectively together.
October 2011
Norfolk for the last stop on the Virginia Statewide
Permanent Supportive Housing Tour in which Bob Sledd, Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor and Norfolk Mayor, Paul Fraim spoke about the importance of a Virginia Housing Trust Fund in order to develop much needed permanent supportive housing.
Richmond for a meeting with Delegate Jennifer McClellan to discuss long-term solutions to ending homelessness, the local efforts of 1,000 Homes Richmond campaign, and the success of permanent supportive housing.
Portsmouth for a meeting with Senator Louise Lucas to discuss VCEH's work statewide and locally as well as the need for a Virginia Housing Trust Fund.
Richmond for the Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) 40th Anniversary dinner.
Arlington for the 100 Homes Arlington Community Briefing tolearn of the week's registry results and present on the statewide progress of 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians.
Richmond for the 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians Statewide Meeting in which over 60 individuals from across the state came together to network, share lessons learned, and develop a statewide housing goal.
On the phone for technical assistance to the West Piedmont Better Housing Coalition for their Continuum of Care application.
On the phone to talk to Laura Zeilinger from US Interagency Council on Homelessness to discuss the federal strategic plan, Opening Doors and statewide progress in Virginia on ending homelessness.
September 2011
Charlottesville to present the 1,000 Homes for 1,000 Virginians statewide effort and opportunity to the Monticello Continuum of Care board meeting.
Winchester for a meeting with Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel to discuss the work of VCEH and efforts to advance best practices for families and children experiencing homelessness.
Hampton for a meeting with the Peninsula CoC team that is leading the local 1,000 Homes campaign for the Peninsula.
Woodbridge for a meeting with the Prince William County Taskforce on Homelessness to provide assistance in developing a pilot project to increase permanent supportive housing in the county.
Richmond for a meeting with Senator Donald McEachin to discuss long-term solutions to ending homelessness, the local efforts of the 1,000 Homes initiative, and the success of rapid re-housing for families experiencing homelessness.
Richmond for a meeting with Delegate Chris Peace to discuss patroning a frequent users pilot project proposal that would target individuals experiencing homelessness that are disproportionally using hospitals and jails due to the lack of permanent housing.
Richmond for a meeting with Senator Henry Marsh to discuss a partnership with VCEH to advance a study on the impact of the recession on homeless families and children and the resulting impact on education.
August 2011
Arlington for the Statewide Permanent Supportive Housing Tour in which a number of state legislators and local government leaders attended to learn about the successes of permanent supportive housing in Northern Virginia. Guests of distinction included Senator Janet Howell, Senator Mary Margaret Whipple, Senator David Marsden, Delegate Patrick Hope, Arlington County Board Members Barbara Favola, Mary Hughes Hynes, Walter Tejada, and Christopher Zimmerman.
Richmond for the Statewide Permanent Supportive Housing Tour in which state legislators Delegate Joe Morrissey, Delegate Manoli Loupassi, and Delegate Betsy Carr attended to learn about the successes of permanent supportive housing in Greater Richmond.
Richmond for the release of the Housing Trust Fund Economic Impact Report detailing the economic impact that a Housing Trust Fund would have on Virginia.
Richmond for participation in the 1,000 Homes Richmond Registry Week and community debriefing.
Suffolk for a meeting with Delegate Chris Jones to discuss the work of VCEH and its members and the impact on his constituents.
Richmond for the Virginia Homeless Coordinating Council to review progress on state plan to reduce homelessness.
On the phone for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund webinar.
Richmond for reception at the Governor's Mansion to honor housing advocates.
Reston for a meeting with Senator Janet Howell to discuss the work of VCEH including the 1,000 Homes initiative and efforts to advance best practices including permanent supportive housing and rapid re-housing.
July 2011
Prince William County for a meeting with Delegate Lingamfelter to discuss long-term solutions to ending homelessness, the 1,000 Homes initiative, and the success of rapid re-housing for families experiencing homelessness.
Richmond for the 100,000 Homes Registry Week Boot Camp which was sponsored by VCEH. Over 60 change agents from across the state and county attended for a 3-day training July 29 - August 1.
Martinsville for the West Piedmont Better Housing Coalition and Continuum of Care board meeting to present the 1,000 Homes statewide effort and opportunity.
Washington, D.C. for the National Alliance to End Homelessness conference and Capitol Hill Day.
June 2011
Richmond for the Homeward Best Practices Conference to moderate the national 100,000 Homes Campaign session for Common Ground East Coast Field Organizer, Linda Kaufman.
Roanoke, Hampton, Charlottesville, and Arlington for the SAMHSA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Toolkit trainings sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work, and VCEH. VCEH presented how to bring together housing and service providers to identify and brainstorm potential resources for the creation of supportive housing. The result: an inventory of resources that could be used, initial and / or strengthened relationships with partners, and creative strategies to address the challenges in creating permanent supportive housing.
Richmond for the Virginia Housing Coalition (VHC) Awards Dinner to celebrate the VHC 30th Anniversary and honor premier agencies and individuals creating affordable housing in the Commonwealth.
On the Phone for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and the Department of Labor stakeholder conference call Opening Doors One-Year: Implementation and Voices from the Field to discuss the impact of plan implantation and what is needed as we move forward into the second year of the Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness.
Norfolk to facilitate a strategic planning retreat for the Dwelling Place board and presented recommendations for shifting their programs to align with best practices.
On the Phone with Mary Brooks from Center for Community Change and VCEH partners to discuss how a state Housing Trust Fund can best assist homeless households in Virginia.
May 2011
Richmond at the State Housing Trust Fund Planning Meeting to plan strategies to increase support for a state housing trust fund with our partner agencies -- Virginia Housing Coalition, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc., Habitat for Humanity Virginia, and other housing focused organizations
Newport News at the Regional Meeting on Homelessness on the Virginia Peninsula; co-hosted with Ferguson Enterprises, Inc., to bring community partners together to brainstorm new opportunities for regional collaborative strategies to address homelessness
Norfolk at the Dwelling Place board committee meeting to provide technical assistance to assist their strategic planning efforts.
Philadelphia, PA at the 100,000 Homes Campaign Registry Week Boot Camp. On May 13th – 16th, VCEH Program Manager Robin Gahan along with members of the 1,000 Homes - Richmond team attended the 100,000 Homes Campaign Registry Week Boot Camp in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, we met with other interested communities from North Carolina, New Jersey, and Delaware to learn the basics of how to conduct a registry week in an intensive training session.
On the Phone for the 1,000 Homes Hospital Partnership Models with staff from the national 100,000 Homes Campaign to review models and brainstorm ideas on how to use the 1,000 Homes initiative to strengthen partnerships with hospitals to provide permanent supportive housing.
On the Phone for the 1,000 Homes Conference Call on the Vulnerability Index with staff from the national 100,000 Homes Campaign to review how to use the Vulnerability Index.
On the Phone for a call with Senator Mark Warner sponsored by the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCHF) to discuss concerns about deficit reduction and housing and community development; the impact of housing and community development in Virginia; and to ensure that federal priorities reflect that housing is a priority.
On the Road at the 100,000 Homes Campaign Boot Camp in Philadelphia to experience first-hand and learn all the tools to implement registry weeks across the state.
Virginia Beach at the Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials (VAHCDO) conference to share information on how housing authorities and homeless service providers can effectively partner .
April 2011
Arlington County at the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness Leadership Consortium and Implementation Task Force to speak on regional strategies to end homelessness
Harrisonburg at the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness Steering Committee to provide technical assistance for the development of their implementation blueprint for their ten year plan to end homelessness.
Martinsville at the West Piedmont Better Housing Coalition board meeting to provide technical assistance on the development of their ten year plan to end homelessness
On the Phone for the Audio Conference on Rapid Re-housing to gather people from across the state to review how emergency shelter and transitional housing programs can respond to recent funding shifts and priorities and transition to rapid re-housing
Richmond at the Virginia Statewide Coordinating Council meeting - the entity charged with oversight of implementation of the state plan on homelessness to which VCEH Executive Director Phyllis Chamberlain has been appointed.
