City council approves $3 million for homeless shelter expansion

Charlottesville City Council has approved a $3 million allocation for the expansion of the Center of Hope, a homeless shelter located on Ridge Street. The project, which totals $28 million, will add approximately 15,000 square feet to the existing facility, bringing its total size to around 47,000 square feet. The expansion includes two additional floors, making the building four stories tall.

The shelter’s bed capacity will more than double, increasing from 55 to 114 beds. The dining area will also expand, growing from 60 to 120 seats. Additional family transitional housing suites will be added, offering more support for those seeking stable living conditions. A multi-purpose room will be enlarged to 2,415 square feet, intended for youth and adult programming, emergency services, and the organization’s Angel Tree Christmas gift campaign.

Life-skills training classrooms will increase from four to eight rooms, with 44 additional seats available for educational and vocational programs. Council member Michael Payne emphasized the importance of the expansion as “an important critical piece of one option that needs to be available” for those in need.

Charlottesville is also anticipating $7 million in funding from the Commonwealth specifically for transitional housing, which can be used for shelters in the area. Council members clarified that the $3 million approved for the Center of Hope expansion cannot be used for the Holiday Drive location, which has already secured separate funding of $4 million.

The vote comes as the city prepares to clear encampments along the Rivanna riverfront by September 1 and open a new shelter at the Holiday Drive location. Some residents and individuals living in encampments expressed concerns during the council meeting. Donna Tietjen, a Charlottesville resident, noted that people should be offered housing options “voluntarily – not forced by a deadline.”

Jennifer Grant, who lives at the Free Bridge encampment, stated, “We live how we want to live, and this is how we want to live. You can not control this by putting us into a shelter.” These voices highlight the complex realities of housing insecurity and the diverse needs of individuals experiencing homelessness.

City council acknowledged that the Salvation Army operates a high-barrier shelter but noted that the expansion of the Center of Hope would provide more people with another option. As the city moves forward with its plans, the expansion reflects a commitment to addressing housing insecurity through increased capacity and support services.

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