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Lynchburg nonprofits report steady placements, rising unsheltered counts and new crisis resources
Summary
Miriam's House (CoC), Parkview Community Mission and Horizon Behavioral Health reported on homeless-response outcomes, shelter capacity, and a new regional crisis care center; presenters said placements into housing increased, unsheltered counts rose in 2025, and Horizon’s Crisis Care Center will provide walk-in assessments and stabilization services.
Three nonprofit partners briefed the council on homelessness, workforce and behavioral-health services on Feb. 10.
Sarah Quarantotto, executive director of Miriam’s House and lead agency for the Continuum of Care, said the local CoC covers Lynchburg and surrounding counties and competes annually for HUD and state homeless-response grants. She reported that in 2025 roughly 188 people experienced unsheltered homelessness over the year and that, while point-in-time counts showed relatively low unsheltered numbers on the census night, the unsheltered share has increased relative to past years because shelter bed capacity fell. Quarantotto said the CoC brings in roughly $1.5 million in public investment (HUD, Virginia DHCD and local CDBG) and that 73% of people experiencing homelessness in 2024 moved into housing.
Todd Blake of Parkview Community Mission highlighted the Life Skills Institute: since 2022, 260 participants entered the workforce (108 in 2025) and Parkview estimates those placements could generate about $5.3 million in annual wages for participants; Parkview thanked the city for CDBG and other support.
Melissa Lucey of Horizon Behavioral Health outlined a new Crisis Care Center opening this year, designed to provide 24/7 walk-in assessments, 23-hour stabilization, 3–7 day residential stabilization, medical detox, and a range of supportive services. She said the center will accept residents from Lynchburg and nearby counties and emphasized diversion from emergency rooms and jails. Horizon also noted a $2 million federal SAMHSA grant for the Lynchburg Recovery Court and described prevention and school-based programs.
Council discussed shelter capacity, the timing of openings for new family- and refuge-style beds (Salvation Army warming-shelter capacity increased to 50 beds; the Refuge on Memorial and a new family shelter were reported as coming online soon), insurance challenges for repurposed facilities, and the need to preserve federal homeless-response funding streams.
No formal council votes were taken during the presentations; council members asked staff for ongoing updates as shelter projects come online.
