Homeless Coalition Formed Identifying Service Gaps, Coordinating Services Top Goals
A new local coalition aimed at improving coordination around homelessness has launched in Rockbridge County.
The Rockbridge Homeless Connection officially began meeting this month as a county-level subgroup of the regional Valley Homeless Connection. The group brings together nonprofits, local government representatives, health providers, churches and other community stakeholders who work directly with people experiencing housing instability.
The coalition held its inaugural meeting Feb. 12 at the Rockbridge Area Health Center and plans to meet monthly.
According to Lindsey Perez, executive director of the Rockbridge Area Relief Association and chair of the coalition, one of RHC’s first challenges is that homelessness in Rockbridge County is difficult to measure, particularly in a rural area.
“That’s one of the goals of the Rockbridge Homeless Connection,” Perez said in an interview with The News-Gazette. “We want to really figure out the extent of the problem.”
Perez said the coalition plans to conduct a local count of people experiencing homelessness this summer. Going forward, the group also plans to participate in the annual federally recognized point-in-time count each January.
Perez said that even without comprehensive data, she can see the number of local citizens experiencing homelessness rising.
“At RARA, we saw an increase last year in households experiencing homelessness,” Perez said, adding that high housing costs are a major factor. “Once you lose that housing, it’s really hard to find another place to get into.”
The new coalition grew out of a homelessness panel held in fall 2024, organized by RARA in partnership with 50 Ways Rockbridge and the Rockbridge Racial Equity Coalition. After the panel, participants continued talking and identified the need for something more specific to Rockbridge County.
“A lot of us participate in the Valley Homeless Connection local planning group,” Perez said. “But Rockbridge has its own specific needs and strengths, and there’s a lot of momentum of people wanting to help within this issue.”
Throughout 2024, members worked to define the coalition’s mission and coordinate with other local housing efforts, including a housing symposium held last fall. A “Housing for All” subgroup that formed after that symposium was later folded into the Rockbridge Homeless Connection, helping lead to its official launch this month.
Rockbridge Homeless Connection aims to provide a consistent forum for sharing information, identifying service gaps and coordinating services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
Founding members include representatives from RARA, the city of Buena Vista, Rockbridge Area Health Center, Carilion Clinic, Rockbridge Area Community Services, Rockbridge Area Housing Corporation, Valley Community Services Board and Project Horizon.
Perez said that those interested in participating in the coalition can reach out for more information, particularly those representing a nonprofit, a church, or a related agency.
“Right now, we’re looking for people to participate in either a professional or organizational capacity,” Perez said. “As far as the general public in the future, we will have some education opportunities and other things where we’ll put information out to the community.”
Those interested in learning more can contact Perez at director@ raralex.org.
