VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Ahead of its opening to the public, 10 On Your Side got a look of the new Housing Resource Center in Virginia Beach. It’s set to open the week of September 10 on Witchduck Road, off of Interstate 264.
Making homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring — that’s the goal of the new Housing Resource Center.
“Get people help they need to move on, to get out of homelessness, to succeed in life,” said Virginia Beach Director of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation Andrew Friedman. “By doing the Housing Resource Center, the city has really enhanced its contribution and allowed the community to really focus a lot of stuff in one place.”
Inside, you’ll find a singles shelter. “This is intended as short-term shelter, where people stay 60-90 days,” said Friedman.
There’s also permanent housing. Friedman said, “These apartments are designed for people who have been chronically homeless.”
Plus, there is short-term family housing, which includes a relationship with Virginia Beach City Schools. “They’re going to make sure the kids get homework help after school, they get transportation to their home school from here,” Friedman said.
The building also has community rooms and a health clinic, making the center the first of its kind in South Hampton Roads.
“We think housing should be what everyone gets and this facility helps us get a lot more people housed,” said Friedman. “I think that’s a fundamental basis for achieving your own life goals.”
They know this building won’t end homelessness, but its one step closer to that goal.
“It’s really incredibly heartwarming to see that by the city making this commitment, it’s stimulated more, even more community support than there already was,” Friedman said.
If you’re interested in helping or volunteering, you can visit the Housing Resource Center’s website.
