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Advocates urge council to act on regional homeless shelter after housing study; council says study draft pending work session
Summary
Advocates from Virginia Organizing asked Newport News leaders to back a regional homeless shelter now that a housing study by BM Advising is complete; council members said the study draft is in process and that a work session will be scheduled to review findings.
Members of Virginia Organizing urged the Newport News City Council on Feb. 11 to move quickly on creating a regional homeless shelter after the completion of a housing study by BM Advising. Aaron Easter, speaking for the group, said Hampton has indicated willingness to partner and has earmarked funds; he asked Newport News to join and to pass a resolution in 2025.
Easter said the region already has shelters in Norfolk and Virginia Beach and that the proposed shelter would serve vulnerable groups including students, the elderly and veterans. He delivered 152 postcards of support and said advocates had met with council previously and that Councilman Long earlier had requested a housing study to inform decisions.
Council response: Councilman Long said the housing study is in draft form and that the city manager could provide more detail; he said the council expects a work session to review the study and next steps. No formal vote or resolution was taken at the Feb. 11 meeting.
Why it matters: Advocates say a regional shelter would address homelessness and fill gaps in services; council members said they are awaiting final study results and will consider the issue in forthcoming work‑session discussions.
