Preparing for Winter: Shelter, Support, and Permanent Solutions

As the weather grows colder, we’ve been hard at work ensuring no one is left without shelter. At our 128 Norfolk site, we’ve dedicated 20 beds specifically for individuals who have been sleeping outdoors. In the past two weeks, we’ve transitioned 22 people from unsheltered homelessness into safe, housing-focused shelter, and our Outreach Team continues to connect with those still outside, having regular connections with multiple people weekly.

We also remain committed to prioritizing seniors and families. We will not allow these vulnerable populations to sleep rough and will assist them to transition to shelter to meet their needs, using overflow spaces if necessary.

With an average of 30 people staying at our Emergency Shelter nightly, we are still far under our bed capacity of 40. We are prepared to use cots for overflow spaces to ensure everyone has a safe place to stay all winter long.

In our efforts to remain as low-barrier as possible, we’ve also expanded our shelter programs to welcome couples and pets, recognizing the diverse needs of our community members.

While many are concerned about whether there will be enough shelter beds this winter, we know the key lies in outflow—helping people transition into permanent housing. To date this year our team has collectively housed 177 individuals. Being housing-focused allows us to stay responsive and flexible, meeting new needs as they arise. As the lowest rung of the social safety net, we feel the immense pressure of this work. We don’t have time to simply hope; instead, we take each day and night as it comes, moving forward with unwavering dedication to permanent housing solutions.

Every step we take is informed by best practices and feedback from the community. It’s about more than just shelter—it’s about ensuring everyone has a place to belong, a home to call their own.

Thank you for standing with us as we continue to adapt, grow, and fight for a future where chronic homelessness is no longer a reality.