City human services director details foster‑care, outreach and housing navigation work

At the Charlottesville City Council meeting, the director of Human Services presented program outcomes and planned initiatives, detailing foster‑care metrics, emergency financial relief totals and outreach figures.

The director said the Department of Human Services served 101 youth in foster care across Charlottesville, Albemarle and Greene County and 21 youths in prevention respite homes this fiscal year; staff reported that 68% of foster placements were kinship placements, a rate the director contrasted favorably with the state average. Community‑based services, which focus on adolescents and families, served roughly 1,421 youth, including programs such as the Community Attention Youth Internship Program and TeensGive.

Adult‑focused services reported that the city’s community connector program — supported by the council‑funded PATHWAYS fund — processed about 800 assistance requests last year totaling approximately $679,000 and helped roughly 421 households with housing and utility relief. The department’s small housing navigation program served about 52 individuals in short‑term emergency hotel stays for families experiencing homelessness; the director said the city does not currently operate a family shelter.

The director described the Anchor outreach program’s first‑year outputs: 253 live calls for service, 142 follow‑ups, 395 total encounters and 250 unique individuals served. City staff plan to propose a next phase for Anchor in FY27 and to add a deputy director for adult services to support expansion. The department also said it will pursue a regional grant to support kinship and family‑finding work in foster care.

Ending: Councilors thanked staff and noted the data link homelessness, housing supply and outreach work — several members urged residents to press for increased budget funding for expanded outreach and shelter operations in the next budget cycle.