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Residents and council press for clearer homeless‑shelter coordination; city manager to follow up
Summary
Public commenters and Councilwoman Thomas urged clearer coordination for sheltering people during extreme weather. City manager acknowledged gaps, said staff will report back and noted an existing 20‑bed shelter and plans for a 50‑bed permanent shelter.
Residents and advocacy groups urged Portsmouth officials to improve coordination and access to temporary shelter during severe weather, and a council member asked the city manager to return with follow‑up information and options.
GW Thompson, speaking for Virginia Organizing, said outreach volunteers and local churches had found gaps in communication and shelter access for people experiencing homelessness. Thompson said he met with Dr. Darlene Washington, director of Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless, who told him the current shelter capacity is 20 and that admission requires documentation such as a medical condition, disability, valid identification and other conditions. "Our concern is what happens when it's at capacity and there is a weather emergency," Thompson said.
Councilwoman Thomas raised the issue earlier on the agenda and asked the city manager for a follow‑up about whether the city could create a homeless task force or designate a staff person to coordinate with volunteer groups. In response City Manager Steven Carter asked for clarification about the scope of work Thomas wanted and agreed to provide additional information to the council at the next meeting. Carter said he did not want to duplicate work already underway and would coordinate with existing groups if appropriate.
Thompson also said construction of a permanent shelter with a capacity of 50 is due to begin this year, according to Dr. Washington, and urged council support for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk on Feb. 22 to support shelter services. Lieutenant Sherrod, interim manager of the emergency management program, and Dr. Washington were reported to be researching the issue and working on potential solutions.
Council recorded no formal vote on policy changes but City Manager Carter acknowledged the need for clearer lines of communication and said staff would return with follow‑up information for council consideration.
