BEACH Community Partnership Blog

The City of Virginia Beach and the BEACH Community Partnership are seeking volunteers to help conduct the annual Point-in-Time Count of people who are experiencing homelessness. The count will take place on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2015 from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires that the city conduct the Point-in-Time Count to continue receiving federal funds through the Continuum of Care. Each year, more than $1 million is granted through the Continuum of Care to Virginia Beach agencies that provide emergency housing and services to the homeless.  "We are seeking volunteers to work throughout the city to assist us in making the count as thorough as possible," said Pam Shine, homeless programs coordinator with Housing & Neighborhood Preservation. "The data collected from the count will provide an update to our understanding of the size and characteristics of the homeless population so that we can better match programs and

The City of Virginia Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation is hosting an open house on the final design concept for the Housing Resource Center on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Academy, 5100 Cleveland St. During the open house, representatives from the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation and Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects will be on-hand to answer questions and provide a brief presentation on the final design concept. Learn more...

The Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Volunteers of America, in partnership with the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, the BEACH Community Partnership, and the Rotary Club of Hampton Roads, is hosting  Homelessness Awareness Week  (Dec. 15 to 21) and  Homeless Memorial Day (Dec. 21) in Virginia Beach. Donation Drive (Dec. 15 - 21) Virginia Beach citizens are encouraged to take part in this community outreach to assist fellow citizens experiencing homelessness. If you can assist, the following donations would be greatly appreciated: new or gently used blankets (twin size only), jeans (men’s and women’s - all sizes), socks, towels and toiletries (travel size). Volunteers of America will also accept monetary donations.  Donated items can be dropped off to the Volunteers of America Lighthouse Center 825 18th St., Virginia Beach (behind the Virginia Beach Police Department Second Precinct) during the following hours: Monday - Friday (7 a.m. t

The Virginia Beach Family Emergency Shelter Team (VBFEST) program is an eight-week program slated to help find homes for families. The team is recruiting churches to house families or help by donating food or time. Move-in kits are also needed. Check out the Family Homelessness Committee newsletter to learn how you can get involved.

The BEACH General Membership meeting on Dec. 9 has been canceled .  Our last meeting of this year will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Beach Fellowship Church .

Individuals and families experiencing homelessness or those at-risk can now access the right services they need more easily. Connection Point of Virginia Beach (227-5932) , the city's referral center for emergency housing assistance, has been enhanced to streamline and standardize the way citizens access the homeless response system in Virginia Beach. "Connection Point now uses a coordinated assessment and housing-focused approach to help prevent and end homelessness for the most vulnerable in Virginia Beach," says Pamela Shine, Homeless Programs Coordinator with the City of Virginia Beach Department of Housing & Neighborhood Preservation. "City agencies and our nonprofit partners are working even more closely together to share information on what resources they have available and screening households for these programs in a consistent manner." Connection Point was a step forward in improving the homeless response system when it launched in 2011. Citiz

From May 28 to July 2, overnight shelter was provided to homeless families with children through a pilot program developed and funded by the BEACH Community Partnership. During the five-week period, participating faith organizations rotated weekly to provide overnight shelter, meals and resources for homeless families.  Seven families - 10 adults and 21 children - were served by the program. Five families eventually became sheltered, housed or were connected to housing programs:  Two families entered shelter One family was connected to Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation's veterans program One family went directly to transitional housing One family entered shelter and is now permanently housed  The family shelter pilot program was modeled after the city's long-running Winter Shelter Program , in which area churches rotate weekly between October and April to provide overnight shelter and meals for single homeless adults. Thanks to the contribut

Tidewater United Church of Christ is hosting a free community event on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The church is located at 2660 West Neck Road in Virginia Beach (across from the new Kellam High School). New and gently-used clothing, footwear, books, household items and toys will be available. Free lunch will also be available. For more details, please see the flyer below.

The Oceanfront Initiative, a pilot program to enhance outreach to homeless individuals, was launched on July 14. Six peer outreach specialists, contracted through the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center and under the supervision of the City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services, will provide a presence at “hot spots” on the boardwalk Sunday through Wednesday. The peer specialists, easily recognized by their pink shirts, will be trained to work in collaboration with the Virginia Beach Police Department. They will provide emergency assistance such as food and clothing and assertively engage homeless individuals in enhanced services designed to move them off the boardwalk and into housing and better opportunities.   Zero’s Subs, 632 Virginia Beach Blvd.    Hope in the Upper Room, 1709 Pacific Ave.   Human Services PATH Program, 302 22nd St. Oceanfront Library, 700 Virginia Beach Blvd.   Lighthouse Center, 825 18th St. The following triage centers will serve as ass

Project HOPE of Virginia Beach City Public Schools is collecting school supplies for the 2014-2015 school year. If you or your organization would like to donate school supplies, please refer to the list of suggested items below and contact Betsy Scales at  263-2338 , Monday through Thursday, to arrange a drop-off time.  Suggested items:  Elementary School Middle/High School If you would like to donate gift cards, please note the amount on the card. Project HOPE thanks all of its community partners for your support. Your generosity has helped many students who are experiencing homelessness and others in need to have a good school year!

​In February, the City of Virginia Beach contracted with local firm Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects for the formal design of the  Housing Resource Center  to be located at 104 N. Witchduck Road. The Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation worked with the faith community, service providers, city agencies, and other stakeholders to determine the types of facilities to be offered at the Housing Resource Center. This process included design charrettes on May 6 to 9.   Interested citizens can provide their thoughts about the proposed design for the Housing Resource Center at www.vbgov.com/virtualtownhall .  Learn more …

The Point-in-Time Count of people who are experiencing homelessness has been rescheduled for the evening of Thursday, Feb. 20 through Friday, Feb. 21 .   In coordination with the Point-in-Time Count, Project Homeless Connect has also been rescheduled for Friday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, 212 19 th St. Volunteers are still needed for the street outreach portion of the Point-in-Time Count and for Project Homeless Connect. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and pre-register by Feb. 18. Mandatory training will be provided for Point-in-Time Count volunteers. To help with the Point-in-Time Count, contact Karen Prochilo at (757) 385-5803 or kprochil@vbgov.com . To volunteer at Project Homeless Connect, contact Michael Shackelford at mshackelford@jcoc.org . LEARN MORE

Due to icy and snowy conditions throughout Virginia Beach, the Point-in-Time Count of the homeless population, scheduled for Jan. 30-31, has been canceled .  Project Homeless Connect , scheduled for Jan. 31 at the Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, has also been canceled .

The City of Virginia Beach will conduct the annual Point-in-Time Count of people who are experiencing homelessness beginning the evening of Thursday, Jan. 30, through Friday, Jan. 31. During the count, teams of volunteers, nonprofit partners and city staff will canvass locations throughout the city and survey people who are without shelter. Volunteers, who are at least 18 years old, are needed to help with street outreach. Mandatory training will be provided.  For more information or to volunteer, contact Karen Prochilo at (757) 385-5803 by Jan. 27.  LEARN MORE

The Virginia Beach Continuum of Care FY 2013 Consolidated Application, including the priority listing of projects, is available for review at  www.vbgov.com/CoC .

Blankets Needed for the Winter Shelter Program Overnight shelter for adults experiencing homelessness is available through the city’s Winter Shelter Program. The program provides homeless individuals with a place to sleep each night from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. at various faith organizations throughout Virginia Beach. Participating faith organizations rotate weekly until April to provide overnight shelter and meals. Some organizations may also provide additional support and resources, such as toiletries, clothing and medical care. Volunteers of America (VOA), under a contract with the city Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, operates the Winter Shelter Program and provides participants with transportation from the Lighthouse Center, 825 18 th St., to the faith organizations. VOA still needs blankets for the Winter Shelter Program. To donate, drop off new or gently used blankets (no comforters) to the Lighthouse Center at the hours listed below. VOA will a