Local governments and homeless service providers across the Greater Richmond region are coordinating winter shelter operations for the 2026–2027 season to help protect individuals experiencing homelessness during cold weather. The regional response includes seasonal overnight shelter, additional surge capacity, warming centers during extreme cold weather, and emergency response for unhoused and at-risk families with minor children.

The winter shelter response is supported through partnerships among the City of Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Hanover County, Homeward, The Salvation Army, CARITAS, GRTC and other regional homeless service providers. New this season, CARITAS will operate the extreme winter weather warming centers funded by the City of Richmond, strengthening coordination across the regional homeless services network.

Winter Shelter Operations

The regional winter shelter response includes three components for single adults:

• Inclement Weather Shelter (IWS): Operated by The Salvation Army at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue. The shelter will operate November 15, 2026, through April 15, 2027, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily, accommodating up to 106 single adults. Any single adult seeking walk-up shelter should report to Salvation Army first, regardless of Surge Shelter activation. Transportation to Surge Shelter will be available if IWS is at capacity.

• Surge Shelter: Operated by CARITAS, the Surge will accommodate up to 70 individuals and will operate December 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, from 5pm-8am when activated. Surge capacity may be activated when IWS occupancy reaches 85 percent and temperatures are 40°F or below for two consecutive hours.

• Overnight Extreme Winter Weather Warming Center: Operated by CARITAS, the warming center will activate when the IWS and Surge shelters have reached capacity and overnight temperatures are forecasted to reach 20°F or below for two or more consecutive hours, or when other life-safety hazards warrant activation. The warming center at Marshall Plaza will accommodate up to 60 individuals and operates from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Operating hours for all three shelter programs may be extended as needed based on weather conditions, community needs, and public safety considerations, including 24-hour operations when warranted.

Shelter Access for Families

Families at risk of sleeping outside in Richmond should visit the Community Resource and Training Center (CRTC) at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After 5 p.m. or on weekends or holidays, families should report to The Salvation Army at the same address, where staff will coordinate with the City of Richmond's Office of Homeless Services to assess needs and identify available resources, including temporary emergency placement.

Public Notifications and Transportation

Surge shelter and warming center activations, as well as extended operating hours for all shelter programs, will be announced through Richmond Ready Alerts and RVA311, including locations, operating hours, and access instructions.

To sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts follow this registration link. Once registered, select “Homeless Shelter Operations” as an alert subscription type you would like to receive.

The Salvation Army Inclement Weather Shelter is accessible by GRTC Route 1. Residents can visit ridegrtc.com for transportation information.

For additional information about winter shelter operations and available resources, visit the Office of Homeless Services webpage.

10-year designation to incentivize targeted investments across the City  

Richmond, VA  — The City of Richmond is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Treasury has approved the designation of eight new “Opportunity Zones” in the City, providing an important vehicle to attract private investment to revitalize and reinvigorate communities throughout Richmond.

First created in 2017, the Opportunity Zone program is an economic development tool meant to spur economic growth, encourage investment, and uplift communities by providing tax incentives to investors. In 2025, the program was made permanent by establishing a recurring program framework in which, every 10 years, new census tracts will be eligible for Opportunity Zones designation. 

Earlier this year, the City of Richmond submitted its priority investment areas to the Commonwealth and, with support and advocacy from the City’s state delegation, Governor Abigail Spanberger nominated eight Census Tracts for Opportunity Zone designation to the U.S. Department of Treasury. 

“We are thrilled with the outcomes from the 2026-2037 Opportunity Zone designation,” said Mayor Danny Avula . “To meaningfully strengthen our communities, we need to find ways to encourage investment. Federal tax incentives like the Opportunity Zone program, when applied to priority reinvestment areas such as Gilpin Court, Monroe Ward, Southside, and others, can spur important economic and community development that is sure to last far beyond the program years.” 

A map of the 2026-2037 Virginia Opportunity Zones can be found on the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development website . City of Richmond Designations include areas around Monroe Ward, Gilpin Court, Southside Plaza, Hioaks, Virginia Union University, and more. 

“There are so many partners to thank for making this possible,” said Richmond Director of Housing and Community Development Merrick Malone . “From local leaders and advocacy groups to local and state legislators, there are no shortage of smart, talented Richmonders doing the hard work necessary to attract investment and encourage thoughtful growth in priority areas.” 

Click here to learn more about the City of Richmond Opportunity Zones. 

On Tuesday, Richmond overwhelmingly voted Yes 4 RPS. It’s been incredibly inspiring to witness such deep belief in the promise of Richmond’s future from every corner of our city.

More than 67% of our neighbors voted to authorize a dedicated 1% local sales tax for school construction. This will create a steady funding source expected to generate nearly $47 million every year for school construction. Over time, that revenue can support as much as $850 million in investments, helping to break the cycle of generation after generation of students learning in aging and outdated facilities.

As I said in July when I announced my plan, I am committed to accelerating school construction while also providing targeted tax relief.

Next Steps

1. I will introduce legislation in partnership with City Council leadership to increase the sales tax rate by 1% and reduce the meals tax rate from 7.5% to 6.5%. The new sales tax rate can take effect no sooner than the first day of a month at least 120 days after ordinance passes. Council and Administrative leadership have already initiated that process, and we’ll have a timeline for the legislation soon.

2. I will introduce a budget in March based on a real estate tax rate of $1.19 instead of the current $1.20.

    

Keeping these commitments to increased funding for school construction and tax relief will require thoughtful planning with our partners on City Council. We will need to make some short-term sacrifices this fiscal year and continue carefully managing our spending.

I want to reiterate my commitment to ensure that your tax dollars are stewarded well and invested thoughtfully. I have attended several of RPS’s community meetings for their Facilities Modernization Plan, and am encouraged by their thoughtful work to ensure that our residents’ voices are shaping facility priorities.

I will continue to follow the process closely, and I have asked that their final plan consider all options for maximizing the impact of every dollar. 

Our shared goal must be to use these resources wisely so that as many current and future RPS students as possible have access to modern school buildings as quickly as possible.

That is our obligation to the next generation, and it is the vision that will guide my administration as we help shape the path forward. 

Submissions should advance priorities aimed at expanding housing choice and further activating the Chamberlayne corridor   

Richmond, VA  — The City of Richmond’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to seek concepts and gauge market interest for redevelopment of the City-owned property at 4929 Chamberlayne Avenue. 

The .97-acre property, currently home to a vacant former school building, sits at the corner of Azalea and Chamberlayne Avenues, two major corridors in the City’s northside. It is bordered by Henrico County to the north and sits near several important amenities, including a Route 1 bus stop, a future North-South Pulse BRT station, Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, and Brookhill Azalea Shopping Center. 

“There is so much potential with this property,” said Richmond’s Director of Housing and Community Development Merrick Malone . “We’re eager to see proposals which take full advantage of that potential, creating amenity-adjacent housing along a critical northside corridor in a way that maximizes benefit to the entire community.” 

Because this RFEI is informational in nature, HCD is open to a range of potential uses, including multi-family residential, ground-floor commercial, community space, or some combination thereof. Respondents are encouraged to think creatively about viable uses which will utilize the full site to meet the City’s development goals, including the strengthening of the Chamberlayne Ave. corridor, the expansion of housing choice, and encouraging connectivity to adjacent amenities, among others. 

Submissions are due to HCD by 3:00 p.m. ET on December 18, 2026  and will be used to inform the timing, structure, and requirements of a more detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), tentatively planned for Winter 2027. 

Please read the full RFEI for submission requirements and other considerations. 

The City of Richmond will close in observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11. All city offices, including City Hall, will be closed. We will return to our regular business hours on Thursday, November 12. Keep reading for information about City service schedules during the holiday.  

For the full city holiday calendar, please visit the Holiday Closings page .   

• There will be no trash collection or bulk and brush collection on Wednesday, November 11. All collections will be delayed by one day. Collections scheduled for pick-up on Wednesday will be picked up on Thursday and so on through Friday, November 13. 
• The East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC) Landfill, located at 3800 East Richmond Road, will be closed on Wednesday, November 11. ERRCC will reopen on Thursday, November 12. 
• Recycling services will operate as normal on Wednesday, November 11. 
• All Richmond Public Libraries are closed on Wednesday, November 11 and will reopen on Thursday, November 12. 
• RVA311 will be closed on Wednesday, November 11. The public will have 24/7 access to self-service via RVA311.com and the mobile app. 
• Richmond Public Schools will operate on their normal schedule on Veterans Day. 
• All Parks and Rec offices and community centers are closed Wednesday, November 11. After School Programs will operate on their normal schedule. 
• The Department of Public Utilities Call Center is closed Wednesday, November 11. For utility emergencies, customers should call 804-646-4646 and press Option 1. For gas leaks, leave the area and call 911. 
• Richmond Animal Care and Control will be closed on Wednesday, November 11. RACC will reopen with regular walk-in hours on Thursday, November 12.