VPM News

Cold weekend likely to strain Richmond’s resources for unhoused

VPM | By VPM News

Published December 6, 2024 at 5:13 PM EST

Icy James River and Richmond skyline — Wind, rain and freezing temperatures are likely this weekend — though it might not be enough to freeze the James River like in this 2015 photo.

The city no longer sponsors an overflow inclement weather shelter.

As part of this year’s Virginia Winter Weather Awareness Week, the National Weather Service station in Wakefield released its seasonal outlook. It predicts a warmer-than-average winter for most of the southern and eastern U.S., including Virginia.

But despite the long-term outlook, this weekend is set to deliver some brutally cold weather in the Richmond area, particularly Friday night into Saturday morning.

Temperatures in the capital city are expected to drop as low as 18 degrees Fahrenheit early Saturday — just above the Dec. 7 record low of 15 F, set in 1954. And while Sunday appears to be warmer, with lows in the 30s, there are still forecasts of wind and potential showers before next week begins.

A harsh winter weekend is likely to strain resources for the unhoused, who are endangered by severe weather conditions.

Richmond no longer sponsors an overflow cold-weather shelter, meaning the only inclement weather shelter available within city limits is the Salvation Army shelter at 1900 Chamberlayne Ave. That shelter, which is open from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., offers 60 inclement-weather beds for single men and 40 beds for single women.

The city advises those in need of resources to not go directly to a shelter without a referral. Instead, it directs people to call the Homeless Crisis Line — which is operated by the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, a coalition of government agencies and nonprofit organizations in the region.

However, local TV stations WRIC and 12 On Your Side found that their attempts to call that line during normal business hours went unanswered.