Residents press council on homelessness and proposed developments; council posts regional homeless study online

Several residents and advocates urged Newport News City Council on May 13 to take more transparent, accelerated action on homelessness and to clarify developer support policies, particularly for off‑site improvements.

At the start of public comment, Vicki Siakas Freeman, a local business owner, asked council to treat small, local developers equitably when considering support for off‑site improvements, saying her family's project had been denied assistance while larger, out‑of‑area developers had received financial support. Freeman said work already underway on off‑site improvements is outside property lines and therefore ineligible for certain tax incentives; she asked council to consider support or to consult the city attorney and city manager about options.

Several speakers focused on homelessness and housing access. Mendel Service urged more transparency and compassion, noting people living outdoors are exposed to extremes and that signage and no‑trespass enforcement do not address the underlying need for shelter. Aaron Easter, representing Virginia Organizing, requested that council provide the public with the status and findings of the city's regional homeless study.

Councilman Long responded that the regional homelessness study is complete and available on the city's website. He said the report looks at long‑term sustainability and steps to move people from being unhoused to long‑term self‑sufficiency, and encouraged advocates to review it. Meeting transcript records both the announcement that the report "is out there now" and that it was posted online that night.

Councilwoman Vick reminded residents that city services such as the Four Oaks Center provide daytime assistance and referrals for people seeking housing direction, and urged anyone who needs help to contact Human Services.

Other public comments included neighborhood safety and traffic concerns about the proposed Costco location at Bland and Jefferson; speakers asked the council to consider alternative sites with larger existing parking lots.

Ending: Council said staff will post and distribute the homeless study link; advocates asked for further transparency on next steps, and small developers asked staff and council to review options for supporting off‑site improvements where local economic development programs and Enterprise Zone rules limit eligibility.