Residents tell council homelessness, trash and housing remain urgent concerns

Charlottesville — At the April 21 council meeting members of the public gave multiple accounts of service gaps and neighborhood quality‑of‑life problems.

Lakira Mills, a social worker and family advocate, said her sister (a housing‑voucher holder on SSDI) and niece became homeless after losing housing and that outreach to local shelters, the homeless hotline, and city social services produced repeated referrals rather than immediate help; she said children had been separated from parents by the Department of Social Services despite efforts to avoid that outcome and asked council what systemic changes the city could pursue to close service gaps.

Kevin Cox described a city‑owned trash can and storm‑sewer area at a local bus stop that has been overflowing and fouling the stop for about 10 years; he said repeated calls to public works, neighborhood development and transit (CAT) produced only temporary fixes and that the problem signals how poor people who take the bus are treated.

Other speakers urged the city to provide clearer outreach about affordable housing resources and pointed attendees to the Office of Neighborhood Solutions, the affordable housing fund report, and a four‑o'clock presentation that staff said is a good starting point for community engagement.

Councilors and staff acknowledged the concerns, offered follow‑up contacts (city email and department phone numbers) and said some answers could be found in recent reports and presentations; no formal policy or immediate appropriation was made during public comment.