RICHMOND, VA – October 29, 2025 – CARITAS, a local nonprofit with almost 40 years of experience creating a safe space to heal and time to rebuild, announced today that it will operate a Surge Shelter to support the Inclement Weather Shelter (IWS) managed by the Salvation Army in the City of Richmond.
This temporary and emergency response shelter will provide additional capacity to support individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the Greater Richmond region during extreme weather this winter. The Surge Shelter will have the capacity to serve up to 60 individuals when it’s open.
“We are proud to stand alongside our partners in Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover to offer this additional support,” said Karen O’Brien, President and CEO of CARITAS. “For almost four decades, CARITAS has identified areas of need and worked to fill the gaps in our region. With this Surge Shelter, our team brings extensive experience to serve individuals facing unsheltered homelessness during extreme winter weather.”
Regional collaboration was central to today’s announcement, which included remarks from elected leaders with Henrico County, the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, and Hanover County as well as the Salvation Army. The four localities will jointly fund the Surge Shelter as well as access to additional resources through case management, housing navigation, and referrals to outreach.
The Surge Shelter will provide additional capacity and space for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness when the IWS is full and the temperature falls below 40 degrees. The Surge Shelter can be activated when those conditions are met between December 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.
The Surge Shelter is not a walk-up shelter. Individuals in need of shelter during the winter should go to the IWS at 1900 Chamberlayne Ave in Richmond. If the Surge Shelter is operating, transportation will be provided from the IWS to the Surge Shelter.
“When our community unites with compassion and purpose, we can ensure no one is left out in the cold,” said Major Samuel Kim, Area Commander for The Salvation Army Central Virginia. “The Surge Shelter embodies our shared commitment to serve our neighbors with dignity and without discrimination — a true example of doing the most good together.”
The Surge Shelter is another tool in our region’s approach to serving our neighbors facing homelessness. In addition to emergency shelters, our region’s network of homeless service providers, the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC), offers a variety of established and proven programs for those in need. Individuals and families experiencing homelessness or within three days of losing housing can contact the Homeless Connection Line, a multi-agency GRCoC program, at 804-972-0813.
Local leaders from our region’s four largest localities, which are collectively funding the Surge Shelter, shared comments:
“Henrico County is proud to stand with nonprofit and government-sector partners to expand the region’s safety net for those experiencing homelessness,” Henrico County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Roscoe D. Cooper III said. “The new CARITAS Surge Shelter will complement the existing Inclement Weather Shelter during the coldest months of the year and ensure that our most vulnerable residents will be able to find respite, warmth and safety when they have no other place to go.”
“We’re grateful to stand alongside this incredible team to make the Surge Shelter possible,” said City of Richmond Mayor Danny Avula. “This is what it looks like when the region comes together – planning ahead, caring for our neighbors, and standing with families through every season. Together, we’re creating a community where everyone has safety, stability, and the support they need.”
“No one should have to face freezing temperatures without a warm place to stay,” said Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors Chair Jim Ingle (Bermuda District). “The Surge Shelter is a direct result of what can be accomplished when localities, service providers, and community partners work together to ensure people are not only protected from winter weather but also connected to resources that can help them find stability. The shelter represents collaboration, compassion, and a shared commitment to caring for every member of our community.”
“Hanover County is proud to stand with our regional partners to ensure that no one is left without shelter during the most dangerous nights of winter,” said Sean M. Davis, Vice Chair of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors. “The Surge Shelter is a smart, compassionate solution that reflects our shared commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.”
CARITAS also will host a hiring fair for the Surge Shelter on Thursday, October 30th from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at The CARITAS Center, located at 2220 Stockton Street in South Richmond.
For more information about the IWS, please contact Octavia King with the Salvation Army at Octavia.King@uss.salvationarmy.org.
For more information about the Surge Shelter, please contact Emily Lehmann at elehmann@caritasva.org.
About CARITAS
CARITAS, a 501c3 nonprofit based in Richmond, VA, creates a safe space to heal and time to rebuild. For almost 40 years, CARITAS has cultivated a vibrant and caring community to support people experiencing homelessness and/or addiction. Throughout our history, we have identified and filled gaps in the Greater Richmond region through programs that address unmet needs and offer proven resources. CARITAS supports and empowers our clients to build pathways to a brighter future. That specific path may look different for each person, but they all lead to a place of stability, self-sufficiency, and opportunity. For more information on our work, programs, and impact, visit https://caritasva.org/.