Some Hampton Roads emergency shelters at or near capacity
A Norfolk emergency shelter is at capacity and a Newport News shelter is nearing capacity as frigid temperatures continue to blast the Hampton Roads region.
The Center, a shelter operated by the city of Norfolk with 100 beds and 40 overflow beds, was at capacity as of Christmas morning.
Francine Williams, a shelter employee, told The Virginian-Pilot cold weather has been a factor.
“It’s not normal to have a full overflow,” Williams said.
The city of Norfolk purchased the facility, a former Budget Lodge motel on Tidewater Drive, in 2021. In addition to providing emergency shelter, it also provides meals, housing and health insurance assistance.
The Union Mission Ministries, a Norfolk homeless shelter on Virginia Beach Boulevard near Military Circle, still had empty beds as of Sunday morning, according to a shelter employee. He said the shelter has close to 100 beds in total.
In Newport News, Peninsula Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter on Huntington Avenue, is nearing full capacity.
An employee of the shelter said 36 of the 40 beds at the shelter were occupied this morning, and that cold weather was having an impact.
“I’ve got four empty beds, so we’ll be able to welcome somebody in this evening,” he said.
Daniel Berti, daniel.berti@virginiamedia.com
