Hills & Heights
New CARITAS Center is helping change the way Richmond thinks about affordable housing
This month, an old tobacco manufacturing plant is becoming a home. Richmond area volunteers and experts are making beds, cleaning floors, and more inside the future home of the CARITAS Center. As a part of the nonprofit’s plan for the space, 47 sober living apartments will welcome men and women transitioning from a crisis and into a stable, sober life.
This month, an old tobacco manufacturing plant is becoming a home. Richmond area volunteers and experts are making beds, cleaning floors, and more inside the future home of the CARITAS Center. As a part of the nonprofit’s plan for the space, 47 sober living apartments will welcome men and women transitioning from a crisis and into a stable, sober life.
This is important for a few reasons, according to the nonprofit.
Right now, half a million Americans are homeless. There is only enough affordable housing available for 25% of that population. Experts suggest that number has the potential to swell up to 45 percent before the year is over as a result of widespread unemployment amid the global pandemic.
Additionally, recent data from law enforcement agencies in Richmond, Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico shows a nearly 60% increase in overdose cases when comparing the first six months of 2019 to the same period this year. Nationally, more than 35 states have reported increases in opioid-related mortality since the pandemic began, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). Reduced access to treatment and recovery services are cited among the reasons for this surge.
Affordable housing can help. People who suffer some substance use disorder make up 64% the homeless population, according to NCH. An affordable and supportive housing community is one of the most important factors to successfully reducing relapse rates.
Richmond-based nonprofit CARITAS has been working to fight the intertwined issues of homelessness and addiction since 1987. Last year alone, the organization served more than 4,000 people and provided 80,720 nights of shelter across its four programs. The addition of a sober living community to its family of programs is an exciting way for the organization to continue innovatively solving some of our country’s most challenging issues.
The nonprofit worked with a local designer Flourish Spaces to bring the concept to life. Every aspect of successful recovery housing and shelter environments have been infused into the final designs. The Flourish Spaces team also took cues from “residential and hospitality spaces as a jumping off point.”
“We didn’t want it to feel institutional,” owner Stevie McFadden said. “We also didn’t want it to feel traditional–there is nothing traditional about this organization. It is innovative.”
When completed, the 150,000 square foot building will feature:
CARITAS: The organization’s administrative offices will be centralized at this site.
The Healing Place for Women: A substance use recovery program available to low-income women in the region, a sister program to the agency’s current program The Healing Place for Men.
47-Sober Living Apartments: For graduate’s transitioning and for qualifying community members.
Furniture Bank: A social enterprise accepting furniture donations and refurbishing them for sale or donation to low-income households.
Emergency Shelter: This new facility will replace the mobile, congregation-based model that has operated in the Richmond region for more than 30 years.
CARITAS Works: A workforce development program for men and women facing significant barriers to employment.
Community
Lane Closures – Forest Hill Avenue between Westover Hills and Dorchester
They’ve started work on the intersection of Westover Hills Boulevard and Forest Hill Avenue. Expect some minor inconveniences in the coming months.
From DPU
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (https://twitter.com/DPUStreetNews)
WHAT: Lane closures for a water replacement project
WHEN: Work has started and is scheduled to be complete by October 2023
WHERE: Forest Hill Avenue between Westover Hills Boulevard and Dorchester Road
PROJECT SCOPE: Water mains will be replaced in both east and westbound lanes of Forest Hill. Traffic will be reduced to one lane as needed for the duration of this project.
Community
RPS Cancels Last Two Days of School and Statement by Superintendent Kamaras
Most Graduation ceremonies will restart next week, with Open High’s ceremony this Friday.
Dear #RPSStrong Family,
As you have likely heard by now, the two individuals killed in yesterday’s tragedy were Shawn Smith, a Huguenot HS senior, and his step-father, Lorenzo Smith. Please join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Ms. Smith; yesterday, she lost her son and her husband. As superintendent – and as a father, husband, and son – I grieve today with Ms. Smith and her entire family.
I did not know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died. Those who did know him, like Kevin Olds, a former assistant principal at Huguenot and now the principal at Wythe HS, described him as “bubbly” and “the life of the party.” Mr. Olds shared the following reflection with me.
When Shawn started ninth grade, he struggled a bit with the structure of high school. As a result, he often found his way to my office. I’m grateful for that because, over time, we formed a strong bond.
Shawn had a joyous and infectious smile. His sense of humor made him full of life, laughter, and all things fun. He was also a very bright young man who could master any textbook.
At times, Shawn wanted to give up, and he considered dropping out of school. But the safety net of the village would not allow that. In addition to his loving parents, a whole team at Huguenot supported him – especially Ms. Harris and Mr. Christmas, school counselors, and Ms. Wilson, school social worker. Because of their efforts and Shawn’s diligence, he graduated yesterday. I am utterly heartbroken that his life ended just minutes later.
If you wish to financially support the Smith family in this very difficult time, please consider donating to the RPS Trauma Healing Response Fund. Established by the RPS Education Foundation, this fund will manage donations to aid RPS victims of gun violence and their families.
Additionally, if you have any information about the shooting, please contact the Richmond Police Department at (804) 780-6461 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
School Closure – In light of yesterday’s tragedy, and out of an abundance of caution, I am closing school for students for our last day and a half (Thursday, June 8, and Friday, June 9). All school events, including moving on ceremonies and end of year celebrations, are also canceled.
Though we won’t have school for students tomorrow, families and students can still come by to drop of technology, pick up grab-and-go breakfast and lunch, and retrieve medications and other student items. Be on the lookout for school-specific instructions from your principal. If any family needs help getting to their child’s school, please call our Family Support Line at (804) 780-6195.
Remaining High School Graduation Ceremonies – Class of 2023 commencement ceremonies will take place next week inside our schools. See below for the schedule. Details about tickets and livestreaming will be provided tomorrow. Please note the following additional security measures:
- No bags of any kind will be permitted inside the school (no exceptions).
- No flowers, balloons, or amplified devices of any kind will be permitted inside the school.
- Everyone will be subject to searches.
- Open High School – Friday, June 9, 9 am, at Richmond Community High School
- Franklin Military Academy – Monday, June 12, 9 am, at Franklin Military Academy
- Armstrong High School – Monday, June 12, 11:30 am, at Armstrong High School
- Thomas Jefferson High School – Monday, June 12, 2 pm, at Thomas Jefferson High School
- John Marshall High School – Tuesday, June 13, 9 am, at John Marshall High School
- George Wythe High School – Tuesday, June 13, 12 pm, at John Marshall High School
Mental Health Resources – If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please access the resources below. There is absolutely no shame in doing so. I have accessed them, and I urge you to do the same.
- The RPS Crisis Team will be providing virtual support to students and families from 11 am – 4 pm and 5 pm – 7 pm. You can access the support through Google Meet.
- Students who need emergency mental health support should call the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at (804) 819-4100 or the ChildSavers Immediate Response line at (804) 305-2420 (or send a text to 741741).
- An additional counseling resource available to students and families is Challenge Discovery Projects. Their counselors can be reached by calling (804) 643-0002.
- The Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center will be open all day for any Latino/Hispanic individuals affected by the shooting. Their 24/7 hotline number is (804) 728-0048.
- The Trauma Healing Response Network is a coalition of grassroots, community-based organizations and mental health partners that provide support services to families and communities impacted by gun violence. The network can also facilitate the distribution of emergency relief funds to help those in crisis. For more information, email [email protected].
- RPS employees in need of emergency support should contact the Cigna 24/7 crisis line at (833) ME-CIGNA (833-632-4462). Additional counseling and support services are also available through the Cigna Employee Assistance (EAP) program by calling (800) 544-6931.
- If you are looking for resources to help you talk to your children about this latest tragedy, please see this document from the National Council on Family Relations.
With great appreciation and love,
Community
Friends of Fonticello Park Awarded Virginia Outdoor Foundation Get Outdoors Grant for Native Meadow Project
The native meadow will serve as an educational hub, providing children and community members with the opportunity to learn about native plant species, their role in supporting local ecosystems, wildlife and pollinator conservation, as well as their contributions to improved soil health and cleaner waterways.
Friends of Fonticello Park, a dedicated all volunteer non-profit organization with a mission to honor the history of the park, while creating a safe, welcoming and nourishing outdoor space for our community and neighbors, is delighted to announce that they have been chosen as the recipient of the Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation (VOF).
The Get Outdoors grant program, established by the VOF, aims to support initiatives that promote outdoor education, conservation, and community engagement throughout the state of Virginia. This highly competitive grant program recognizes projects that encourage individuals to connect with nature, explore the outdoors, and cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for the environment.
The Friends of Fonticello Park’s project proposal, titled “The Native Meadow Project: Creating Equitable Access to Natural Urban Educational Spaces in Fonticello Park,” was selected from a pool of exceptional applicants due to its innovative approach to creating a vibrant educational space within the park. With the generous grant of $20,000 from the VOF, the organization will undertake the transformational task of establishing a native meadow within Fonticello Park.
Virginia Outdoor Foundation Executive Director, Brett Glymph shared, “We are thrilled to support the development of the native meadow, and we especially love that kids will help with its design and construction. Spaces such as these are vital to strengthening communities, improving health, and connecting people to nature.”
The native meadow will serve as an educational hub, providing children and community members with the opportunity to learn about native plant species, their role in supporting local ecosystems, wildlife and pollinator conservation, as well as their contributions to improved soil health and cleaner waterways. The project aims to engage neighborhood schools and organizations, involving children in various aspects of the project, from plant selection and space design to land preparation, planting, and ongoing maintenance and educational programming. This project is aligned with the vision of the Friends of Fonticello Park to bring more programming in the park in order to combat and eliminate the rash of gun violence that has plagued the park in recent years, including the death of 9 year old Markiya Dickson on Memorial Day weekend in 2019.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation,” said Teresa Cole, Board Chair of Friends of Fonticello Park. “This grant will allow us to create an inclusive and educational natural space within Fonticello Park, where community members, particularly children, can connect with nature, learn about our local ecosystem, and actively participate in its preservation. This also allows us to support one of our goals to return the park to a natural state through a process of rewilding that will support the local ecosystem, reduce stormwater runoff, and contribute to the reduction of the heat island effect in our community. Most importantly, it allows us to deliver high quality, positive programming for our community to combat the gun violence that has become a part of our park’s history.”
Friends of Fonticello Park will collaborate closely with local schools, organizations, and community members to ensure the successful implementation of the native meadow project. The organization is committed to fostering equitable access to educational and recreational opportunities, promoting environmental awareness, and strengthening community bonds within the Fonticello Park area.
The Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation signifies the dedication and hard work of Friends of Fonticello Park in their mission to positively impact the community. The organization gratefully accepts this grant and looks forward to embarking on this transformative project that will enrich the park and the lives of its visitors.
For more information about Friends of Fonticello Park and their initiatives, please visit fonticelloparkrva.com.
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Lane Closures – Forest Hill Avenue between Westover Hills and Dorchester
RPS Cancels Last Two Days of School and Statement by Superintendent Kamaras
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Friends of Fonticello Park Awarded Virginia Outdoor Foundation Get Outdoors Grant for Native Meadow Project
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Science Museum of Virginia offering special $10 admission days on 10 separate dates this year
