[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6563113,"mediaKeyId","3235066-4caba8d5b5a9c0603572f0ddc147dbdd","parentId",3235066,"title","Richmond office reports senior needs assessment: housing, sidewalks and outreach gaps identified","audioSeconds",784,"startMs",1976000,"endMs",2760000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3235066-4caba8d5b5a9c0603572f0ddc147dbdd&start=1976&end=2760","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3235066-4caba8d5b5a9c0603572f0ddc147dbdd/thumbnail_1976000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6563113/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-office-reports-senior-needs-assessment-housing-sidewalks-and-outreach-gaps-identified","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563113-09fbc7df104191ba1e14ae4776defd9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770706095&Signature=ZZObtSJmOq2MyIDId~Y5n4aWl7t-LOEO6eOIt19~zrhsjaK~a238WaHfxCnt7MAbDH0ddETdbZzrm6m6-XLzEQEEw3ScAb~gGr2fDX1NRMUIt97ScHeaDiqzrbqlHlB5jubz9mN02n7TLn0ybxZ9fwDPqfdA5JBG6Y46YgzgGZRDLczvLl8hcxAxgT6J0wdXUqdDJxVxXFo~I3XVqYRiSq8wciSAHmDql6vXW1oh9TWpoivHtcTKdymKNEjiu7Updmu4MJl7aeBkVQm~s21S9PLo0Cgkou-010FccxkM6UQzhmpNzJfgj-By~-kl9NhgJ91FMqVxKak0~ITFi68ooQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Richmond City Office of Aging and Disability Services told the City Council’s Education and Human Services Standing Committee on May 13 that its 2023 needs assessment shows a growing older-adult population and multiple service gaps, especially in housing, transportation, built environment and outreach.

Natasha Hout, program manager for the Office of Aging and Disability Services, said the office serves residents 55 and older and people 18 and older with physical disabilities and that the city’s older-adult population has risen since the assessment. \"As of the time of this survey in 2023, the landscape of older adults was about 57,000 people ... as we've moved into 2025 ... that number has increased to almost 70,000 older adults in the city,\" Hout said.

Hout summarized five broad findings from the assessment: the most common identified needs are the built environment, housing and technology; older adults want fitness, adult‑education and cultural activities; city and partner services are not easily accessible to many seniors; older adults prefer paper or written communication; and the office compiled a \"senior navigator\" document listing more than 900 resources. She said the project team produced nine recommendations and presented several the committee could act on now, including asset mapping, a biennial interest survey for seniors, and coordinated outreach with partner agencies.

The office reported several concrete follow-ups already under way. Staff members from the Office of Neighborhood Engagement are validating the senior navigator list to identify active programs, participation costs and capacity. The office is working with the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office to expand participation in the sheriff’s \"RU Okay\" check‑in program, which currently supports about 32 people; Hout said the offices are trying to move additional residents onto that call list without overwhelming sheriff’s capacity. The office also reported a partnership with the Office of Community Wealth Building, the SPAN Center (formerly Senior Connections) and VCU gerontology to offer a paid personal care aide training program. Hout said the pilot began with nine participants; all nine completed the personal care aide certification and CPR, and, according to program staff, those participants have been placed in positions.

Hout highlighted gaps that require more capacity or funding. She said many older adults live in areas the office called food deserts; the office has launched pop‑up pantries using managed care partners such as Humana and food provided by \"Feeding World,\" and is seeking to push more activity into the next fiscal year. Home‑repair demand is acute: Hout said wait lists in the full report can run \"up to two years\" and in some cases \"three to five years,\" leaving older adults in unsafe conditions. She also said the office has three total staff members handling the workload and is seeking additional personnel.

Councilwoman Jones thanked the office for the report and urged a holistic approach, noting transportation and safety inside senior housing as recurring concerns. \"A lot of them don't have families. A lot of them ... are alone by themselves all the time. I feel like as a city, we should really begin to think about our senior community,\" Jones said. Several council members offered to help coordinate with Public Works and Parks and Recreation to address sidewalks, ramps and accessible programming.

The office noted a communications gap: older adults prefer paper mailings. Hout said the office is pursuing funding for a minimum twice‑yearly direct mailer and hosts monthly learning sessions and resource fairs to reach residents one‑on‑one.

The committee did not take a formal vote on policy changes at the meeting; members asked the office to follow up with additional detail on funding sources for direct mail and requests for future reporting on home‑repair program capacity and parks programming for seniors.

The presentation included comments from Amy Popovich, the newly introduced deputy chief administrative officer for human services, who said she looks forward to partnering with the office on implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Education and Human Services Standing Committee on 2025-05-08 2:00 PM - To access the meeting via Microsoft Teams, please use the following link: https://tinyurl.com/EHS-May-8 or dial *67-804-316-9457 and enter ID: 759 142 681# - May 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Richmond City Office of Aging and Disability Services told the City Council’s Education and Human Services Standing Committee on May 13 that its 2023 needs assessment shows a growing older-adult population and multiple service gaps, especially in housing, transportation, built environment and outreach.","taxTitle","Richmond City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563104,"Committee backs $25,000 IRC contract to expand newcomer high‑school summer programming",281,3702000,3983000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3235066-4caba8d5b5a9c0603572f0ddc147dbdd&start=3702&end=3983","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3235066-4caba8d5b5a9c0603572f0ddc147dbdd/thumbnail_3702000.jpg","/articles/6563104/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-backs-25000-IRC-contract-to-expand-newcomer-highschool-summer-programming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563104-2d877098f3f854e828cfde00b2897d61/orig.mp4?Expires=1770706095&Signature=HGaUjoRMk7kzgnGkONNKy8Fy6B3b-No0Gcvt7mf76Mwv8vVhNxBJRYYqqCgNVGfiqTMHn7GF97vMS6hCU-TH70YeT4UDNmbsPVgOEkOpDTd5YwRPLidI7PhLnWpK~11jAK0VLO1ksxQBL0hrGr0e0ycBYDfYP-QahEf39XDVjGM1VmpvBt8XXFigjVCPO50K~fch7TQPdHeFaDcxfoHF1TzUsMK4RutNadvWim76uSadH4lrFWmldsJACrmNOE5sOWKKNANFKFAk8VhIlRKPQcNmLHdMHA6MTvoblPiHhQQRJ-PsMkrYPFaGj0ASaVE5~-bz6w8EE7YvmH9ob1xLgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Education and Human Services Standing Committee voted May 13 to recommend to the full council an ordinance authorizing the chief administrative officer to execute a grant contract with the International Rescue Committee, Inc., for $25,000 to expand youth development programming for newcomer high‑school students.

Eva Colon, senior policy adviser in the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and leader of the Office of Children and Families, told the committee that the money would come from the budget’s reserve for children’s fund line — money set aside from prior years to respond to emergent priorities. \"With city funds, they would not have to ask for documentation because the money that is allocated to them federally is tied to refugee students, not newcomers broadly,\" Colon explained. She said the grant would allow IRC to serve more students through the end of the summer by reducing documentation barriers, funding wraparound services and offering enrichment activities tied to Richmond Public Schools’ ESL summer academy.

A public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers in the chamber and no virtual comments. Amanda Carolinas of the IRC was present in the room to answer organization‑specific questions.

Committee members expressed support for the investment. The committee recorded roll‑call votes of Miss Jones — \"Aye\"; Vice Chair Bretson — \"Aye\"; Chair Lynch — \"Aye.\" The committee chair stated that the motion to recommend the ordinance to full council passed.

The ordinance was identified in committee as \"Ordinance 2025‑089\" and the staff presentation emphasized that the $25,000 award is intended to increase participation among newcomer youth and maximize the impact of existing city and nonprofit investments in youth programming.","The committee recommended approval of ordinance 2025‑089 to authorize a $25,000 grant contract with the International Rescue Committee to expand summer programming and navigation for newcomer high‑school students; the vote to send the ordinance to full council was approved by the committee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563108,"Committee approves slate of advisory‑board appointments and reappointments",387,3304000,3691000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3235066-4caba8d5b5a9c0603572f0ddc147dbdd&start=3304&end=3691","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3235066-4caba8d5b5a9c0603572f0ddc147dbdd/thumbnail_3304000.jpg","/articles/6563108/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-approves-slate-of-advisoryboard-appointments-and-reappointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563108-ca063c38fea276b0bcae2a0e6dd415da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770706095&Signature=jEeh7yzPvmgtB00DSEK7po35VZp~oxnGIPYeM2ZdaVQyjvmbie~CFfyjOgPH~lCFpq9dRVIy7l0eBDkeSsoEKjaAgeMZtgjirtSJ89~Iack9QnMmR7lHNhno8q3moCQ~HpjLbNxjwhJy5WXQ1hAyJLOTVo5QHZ5ULvXB~AQA6mZnEVwQdiwrV7Z48cfxFATzDjW-qEajONztwi~nb2XqVOIjPkFRLcCKV-URuy7wM7xEj8j1MJd6RmmTlUIWoGjQNCS6D5YDoN~4RaUIRcAMOAWjsz6ZjzrahyBrFPXZ8JhCcoLgNG9UqfAd7eHkkoO0Kca5EW5dxo0qQmsVWjoIRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council’s Education and Human Services Standing Committee on May 13 approved a block of advisory board appointments and reappointments, covering recreation and parks, aging and disabilities, workforce/education partner boards and others.

Pamela Nichols, council management analyst, presented the vacancy report and read multiple applications and reappointment requests for boards including the Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks, the Aging and Disabilities Advisory Board, Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People (CAP UP), the Community Policy and Management Team, J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College board, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens board, the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority and the Social Services Advisory Board.

The committee approved appointments and reappointments in one motion. The motion as recorded at roll call produced the following votes: Miss Jones — \"I\"; Vice Chair Bretson — \"I\"; Chair Lynch — \"I.\" The committee chair announced the motion had been approved.

Appointments and reappointments named in the committee motion included (as presented): Anne Brooks Rich and Thomas Briggs Jr. (Parks and Recreation), Jody Winship and Charles Barker (Aging and Disabilities Advisory Board), Sam Parker (CAP UP), Charlotte Talley (Community Policy and Management Team), Brenda Drew and Joseph Chaudhuri (J. Sergeant Reynolds board), Allen Davis and Madeline Mayhud (Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens), Christy Babenko and Dennis Cohen Jr. (Richmond Behavioral Health Authority reappointments), Scott Kennedy (RBHA reappointment), Noreen O'Brien (RBHA initial application), and Caleb Fulford (Social Services Advisory Board). The committee also noted several mayoral appointments remain vacant and requested outreach to the mayor’s office on those vacancies.

The committee did not identify amendments or dissent at the time of the roll call; the clerk recorded the motion approved.","The Education and Human Services Standing Committee voted to approve multiple appointments and reappointments across advisory boards in a single, block motion; the committee recorded three affirmative votes and approved the slate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Richmond office reports senior needs assessment: housing, sidewalks and outreach gaps identified

Committee backs $25,000 IRC contract to expand newcomer high‑school summer programming

Committee approves slate of advisory‑board appointments and reappointments