Residents press council for action on homelessness; council says regional study is complete and will be published

Several residents urged Newport News City Council on May 13 to take more concrete action on homelessness and to provide clearer public information about shelter planning and services. Speakers asked for faster implementation of shelter capacity and praised outreach staff while calling for greater coordination across city services.

A resident identified on the record as Vicki Siakas Freeman urged the council to consider support for off-site improvements tied to a local, family-owned development (SKS), saying staff told her the city had declined similar assistance for that project even though the city has supported off-site improvements for larger, out-of-area developers. Freeman requested council's consideration of support and suggested staff and the city attorney review possible options.

Another speaker representing Virginia Organizing, Aaron Easter, asked for transparency about the city's homelessness and housing work and requested an update on the status of a housing study that had been delayed. A resident described daily encounters with people experiencing homelessness and urged more tangible services rather than signage and restrictions.

Council response: Councilman Long said the regional homeless study is complete and would be made available to the public. He said the report 'steps through the process of how you move from being unhoused all the way to long term self sufficiency' and encouraged stakeholders to review it. Communications staff later said the study would be posted on the city's website that night and linked from the city homepage.

Why it matters: Residents who interact with unsheltered individuals asked for clearer timelines and action on shelter planning and outreach. The council's statement that the regional study is complete and will be published provides a new public information milestone; the contents of the report and any staff recommendations will shape next steps.

Next steps: The city said the study will be posted on the human services section of the city website and communications staff will add links to the homepage. Council members and residents said they expect the study to inform decisions about shelter capacity and regional coordination.