Charlottesville City Council has met three times this spring with organizations in the “Continuum of Care,” a federally-recognized approach to assisting individuals experiencing homelessness. At the conclusion of the third on May 13, City Manager Sam Sanders agreed to provide an update at all Council meetings.
At the May 18 meeting, Sanders said he had met with people involved with the Rivanna Trail Foundation.
“They came to discuss the concerns that they have as it relates to encampments in the city along the river,” Sanders said. “But what was different in that conversation and one that I appreciated and shared with them directly was that they spoke from a place of wanting to partner and wanting to coordinate.”
Sanders said the group is concerned about public access to the trail which runs along public property through Riverview Park up to Free Bridge. Dozens of people are living in tents in the space. Sanders said he told members of the RTF that not everyone is always going to be happy as the situation continues to unfold.
“They were very responsive, very supportive of the idea of getting the information that they felt like they needed to speak to their members, speak to their donors, because they’re concerned about being in a position that they might lose support for some of the ongoing work that they have if they felt that people were going to stop using the trail system,” Sanders said.
Sanders said he was scheduled to meet with PACEM on May 19 to go over their budget. He wanted to know from them what it would take for them to operate an overnight facility as soon as possible.
Sanders confirmed that the initial work will only involve the 27,000 square foot building that was purchased at 2000 Holiday Drive with no additions. The firm Mitchell / Matthews Architects and Planners had developed one with more building space.
“When we identify what we lose by not adding the small piece to the building, how can we offset that potentially with other ideas inside the building, or what is it that we just have to simply accept as a loss?” Sanders said.
Sanders said that conversation is ongoing with Charlottesville’s Director of Human Services involved as well as the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. He said the director of the CACF said that organization wants to become more involved in facilitating the operations plan that will have to be in place for PACEM, the Haven, and the Blue Ridge Coalition for the Homeless to work together in the space.
Previous coverage:
- Charlottesville City Council briefed on low-barrier shelter by groups that provide the programming, March 27, 2026
- City Council presented with The State of Homelessness 2026 by four nonprofit groups working on the issue, May 12, 2026
- Salvation Army launches fundraising campaign for Center for Hope, May 15, 2026
- Many details remain to be worked out for how three groups will work together at Charlottesville’s future low-barrier shelter, May 15, 2026
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