Everyone Counts in Richmond

The downtown Richmond Winter 2012 Point in Time Count in full swing on January 26 at historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Photo by Jay Baker

On January 26, 2012, HUD Virginia Field Office staff joined 55 other volunteers to help Homeward (http://www.homewardva.org/) complete their Winter 2012 Point in Time Survey to count homeless individuals in the downtown area. Homeward is the planning and coordinating organization for homeless services in the greater Richmond region.

In hundreds of towns, communities and neighborhoods across the nation, homeless funding and services are calculated on the results of the homeless count. Homeward's semi-annual count takes place in a number of locations--shelters, meal sites and outdoor places where homeless individuals might be found. St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Richmond hosted the event and served lunch to nearly 300 guests. Service information was provided and clothing and free haircuts were available.

Joining the volunteer effort were representatives from the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Virginia Department of Social Services and a number of other outreach partners. Additionally, HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Action Programs, Mark Johnston, and his wife Lynne; VA Assistant Secretary for Operations, Security and Preparedness, Joe Riojas, and his wife Susan; and VA Network Homeless Coordinator, VISN6 Jeff Doyle, served as volunteers. Among the wonderful people participating in the survey was Earl Dunn, new recipient of a HUD-VASH (Veterans Affairs Support Housing) voucher.

(l to r) HUD Virginia Public Housing Program Director Jerryl Bennett; McGuire VAMC HUD-VASH program coordinator Sue McHenry; HUD-VASH program participant Earl Dunn; McGuire VAMC Homeless Coordinator Ray Patterson; and VA Assistant Secretary Joe Riojas.

(Clockwise from left) HUD Virginia Public Housing Program Director Jerryl Bennett; VA Chief of Social Work Robin Jackson; Ray Patterson; Jeff Doyle; HUD Virginia Community Planning and Development Director Ronnie Legette; Susan Riojas; VA Assistant Secretary Riojas; McGuire VAMC Intern Melody Wilson; HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Action Program Mark Johnston; Homeward Executive Director Kelly King-Horne; HUD Virginia Management Analyst Anne Davis; and HUD Virginia Field Office Director Carrie Schmidt.

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