[{"_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",6510654,"mediaKeyId","5360565-0abf9926a0b82bd8e3416d44d1a892f7","parentId",5360565,"title","Committee forwards ordinance to fund Caritas surge beds and casework with $309,000 transfer","audioSeconds",838,"startMs",246000,"endMs",1084000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360565-0abf9926a0b82bd8e3416d44d1a892f7&start=246&end=1084","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360565-0abf9926a0b82bd8e3416d44d1a892f7/thumbnail_246000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6510654/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-forwards-ordinance-to-fund-Caritas-surge-beds-and-casework-with-309000-transfer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510654-666b34a7fd37130ba10d25ef0dab5499/orig.mp4?Expires=1770849515&Signature=mHH4fz2pVzjGJ9xYMoCLYJ3UCynz1jeoEwytrauISjcL3RO6LtrwhtXCWJ8~EjG6HupTutG~ErtXLuOZeDx5lXxzt8ZWU7aBz87AhVqs9OMZogm1PSXrH3Pos-D2mOS5HG51-6WK2AXSILXcSMCenlzn0N-HYPGDrLYdJlH9BvJgwlDOAuX12wqiMrI9Ti6TbsnP9gDOqXrLydohXP~Mf8JPrsjG-QpjeqMAOA5xLW4iBRSAO-KpSpCz0~Hg4Ru40aEbsc6nX5pOt~F-Pe783WMsWKJh~92VO~DLY1FguDB2KBhh351YeSsSbXKT7VMKO~zEAj8~EyqeHrINv4hfWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-07-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Education and Human Services Standing Committee on Thursday voted to forward ordinance 2025-163 to full council with a recommendation to approve, creating a new Caritas line item and appropriating $309,000 to support surge overflow shelter operations during inclement winter weather.

Committee members and city staff described the funding as one piece of a broader proposal from Caritas that would expand emergency bed capacity and add three full‑time staff to support year‑round case management and housing navigation.

DCAO Amy Popovich, who led the presentation to Chairwoman Lynch and Councilman Breton, said the committee’s first goal was “to have a plan, a budget, and location for additional bed capacity, for singles and families.” Popovich described two separate pieces: surge beds for extreme weather and investments to strengthen year‑round services through the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care. She said Caritas proposed staffing and program investments totaling $618,000 that would fund a shelter supervisor, a case manager and a housing navigator, and that the Caritas proposal included capacity for 60 surge beds for up to 30 nights and additional year‑round supports that staff estimated could help about 50 more people move into permanent housing.

The ordinance before the committee differs from the Caritas proposal. The clerk read ordinance 2025‑163 as an amendment to ordinance 2025‑057 (adopted 05/12/2025) to transfer $200,000 from Heart of Richmond and $109,000 from the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, creating a new Caritas line item and appropriating $309,000 for surge overflow shelter operations.

A city administration representative explained the funding source at the meeting: Heart of Richmond funds had been consolidated to support a higher‑impact project and $109,000 represented unspent funds from a homeless services vacancy. The administration said the $309,000 is a reappropriation from FY25 aimed at limiting fiscal impact on the new fiscal year.

Committee members asked whether the city could exceed the 30‑night surge allocation in an extreme emergency; staff replied there is a prorated per‑night cost and the city could pay for additional nights if needed. Popovich said the package was designed not only to provide temporary shelter during extreme weather but also to “support the broader, work and wrap around work and support that's happening for the unhoused in our community.”

There was no public opposition registered during the hearing. After discussion, a motion to forward the ordinance with a recommendation to approve passed on a roll call vote: Vice Chair Breton, aye; Cheryl Lynch, aye. The motion was recorded as approved by the committee and will be considered by full council.

Clarifying details from the meeting: Caritas presented a proposal described by staff as $618,000 to fund three full‑time positions (shelter supervisor, case manager, housing navigator), estimated capacity for 60 surge beds up to 30 nights, and an expectation of moving roughly 50 additional people through Caritas’ year‑round continuum to more permanent housing; the ordinance forwarded by the committee appropriates $309,000 sourced from a $200,000 transfer from Heart of Richmond and $109,000 from DNCS unspent funds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Education and Human Services Meeting - July 10, 2025, at 200 p.m. - Jul 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Education and Human Services Standing Committee on Thursday voted to forward ordinance 2025-163 to full council with a recommendation to approve, creating a new Caritas line item and appropriating $309,000 to support surge overflow shelter operations during inclement winter weather.","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},6510645,"Committee discusses using $50,000 in unassigned funds to replace SNAP benefits stolen from accounts",172,1950000,2122000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360565-0abf9926a0b82bd8e3416d44d1a892f7&start=1950&end=2122","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360565-0abf9926a0b82bd8e3416d44d1a892f7/thumbnail_1950000.jpg","/articles/6510645/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-discusses-using-50000-in-unassigned-funds-to-replace-SNAP-benefits-stolen-from-accounts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510645-391302c238655a4843f947e756c40ca8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770849515&Signature=hHwzlDlds0w4GTaL9CVehLLBucZ-mnSMcYHB2zyTSa33brNFe7OxsFJpmU4j4JnyG8sMyLq5IbtSmhJTiM2FQYZ7mxoPMgZJAgCiAViGIb-rI0UGtTyK2Lq6XiwHzlVVkaYwwkchLH09ALABwWoHRESBHAEannvS~7-ovDMXm87AtMJaj65eXIsVEf6umHfWfuSaGnCl25JFFa6U~Sn-AwxDfw2D15zUe~eJCkWc5-JsQlnGClJ1bPgicx57u5ujWAcNjMD2WnNusiP5SIm~fcwSeNf-esd0wfONdPCLJDlvBwNdYR7JUDtfBO-tmsSC8V4u3uJ4z0VjhgMecQ1ZCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members discussed a proposal to direct $50,000 in unassigned nondepartmental funds to the Family Crisis Fund for use replacing SNAP benefits stolen from recipients' accounts, a problem officials described as sharply increasing food insecurity in Richmond.

Chairwoman Lynch recounted earlier committee work on SNAP theft and said staff saw a “63% increase in the volume of calls” to DSS representatives from families reporting benefit theft. Lynch said food pantries and faith‑based food ministries are struggling to meet need and framed a city allocation as an immediate, tangible support: giving families a gift card at the time they seek help from DSS rather than only a referral list.

Staff noted $50,000 exists in unallocated funds that became effective July 1 in the new fiscal year. Council members expressed support for using those funds to help families; Council member Bridal called the idea “a great idea” and said the funding aligns with the original intent of the budget line. Committee members asked council counsel whether a formal ordinance or resolution would be required to reassign the funds; staff said they would work with counsel to determine the legal process.

No formal motion or committee vote was recorded on the allocation at the committee meeting; staff listed moving the proposal to full committee and pursuing the appropriate legal path as an action item. Committee members emphasized urgency and asked staff to move quickly because “people are really struggling out in the community.”","Committee members discussed a proposal to allocate $50,000 from unassigned funds to the Family Crisis Fund to provide immediate SNAP replacement support for households affected by benefit theft; no formal vote was taken and staff said council legal guidance would determine whether an ordinance is required.",{"_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},6510649,"Committee approves multiple board appointments, tables Lewis Ginter nomination",350,1396000,1746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5360565-0abf9926a0b82bd8e3416d44d1a892f7&start=1396&end=1746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5360565-0abf9926a0b82bd8e3416d44d1a892f7/thumbnail_1396000.jpg","/articles/6510649/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-approves-multiple-board-appointments-tables-Lewis-Ginter-nomination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6510649-3d732466c65736d025a7aaaffd18a72c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770849515&Signature=GtlVDGzMGcG1xXj7O2e4Zc~v0FexdULLXcbgyq9ayYMbXx-pJ9YAjK8T57WaEmR-Ela3RXPa35BBQUoim6lU7UD4At~Eisxqk3EPFjT~f5WLCt3lgO5gFJYJt7J76sordZBa9XzThNgMF0kPexyI1AaEJ8MR-V3HpmE44Sx7BT3LFfdJ5u04EoYodtjPY908S5YxXKyX5~MwUqhbpqe1xrh~N37PfNUXXd40nzYfAEqKHwmz-p6fE6peVGMgXQ9OP8ui2F51GbrRhpL0L7ZAr1pcPjEm0oCWe2CLax~KIVA7APXG5JHg8r4nbVlVIHBX1W~0fr5Q3pZPX8LcTIKGYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Education and Human Services Standing Committee approved a block of appointments to several advisory boards and commissions and tabled a Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens appointment to the next quarter.

Pamela Nichols, council management analyst, presented the vacancy report listing current openings and applicants for boards including the Advisory Board of Recreation and Parks, the Capital Area Alcohol Safety Action Program (ASAP) policy advisory board, the Future Workforce Commission, the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA), the Richmond Public Library Board and the Social Services Advisory Board. Nichols noted mayoral appointment Thad Williamson to the Future Workforce Commission would complete current mayor vacancies.

Chairwoman Lynch moved to approve a slate of candidates: Vic Murphy for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; Beverly Hawkins for ASAP; Victor Goches and Thad Williamson for the Future Workforce Commission; Ismael Romero for the Human Rights Commission; Veranda Cobbs for RBHA; Kirk Pickrell for the Richmond Public Library Board; and Camden Whitehead for the Social Services Advisory Board. The committee agreed to table the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens appointment. A second was called and the roll call recorded Vice Chair Breton, aye; Chair Lynch, aye. The motion carried.

The clerk recorded that RBHA had provided support for applicants Stephanie Fina and Veranda Cobbs and the library board vacancy had multiple applicants; the committee approved the named slate and asked to continue consideration of Lewis Ginter to the next quarter.

Clarifying details: the vacancy report covered current and projected vacancies through November; applicants and district residences were recorded in the report (for example, Vic Murphy — First District resident; Victor Goches — Fourth District resident; Thad Williamson — mayoral appointment).","The committee approved a block of advisory board appointments including parks and recreation, workforce, RBHA and library board nominees and tabled the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens appointment for a later quarter; the motion passed on a roll call with Vice Chair Breton and Chair Lynch voting aye.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee forwards ordinance to fund Caritas surge beds and casework with $309,000 transfer

Committee discusses using $50,000 in unassigned funds to replace SNAP benefits stolen from accounts

Committee approves multiple board appointments, tables Lewis Ginter nomination