The official Dancing Deer Baking Company Blog

I had a great conversation this morning with Edward Judkins, Program Director at the Caritas Shelter in Glen Allen, Virginia (just outside of Richmond). As we’re moving through these cities, it’s always a pleasure speaking with these directors and getting their perspective of homelessness in their city. Edward was more than happy to share his thoughts on the roots of homelessness, and on a hopeful note, how to keep a family off the streets and on the right track.

I started off by asking him the reasons why families become homeless in Richmond. Think about it, as a fellow Deer said to me this morning “We’re all one or two bad decisions away from become homeless” “Most of our residents come to us due to evictions from non-payment of rent, domestic violence situations, or having to vacate a residence for the sake of children’s safety. They are unable to maintain that economic level to sustain housing”, Edward started off. Interestingly enough, Edward finds that the families that come to the shelter aren’t necessarily from the Richmond area. “I find that people come to Virginia because they can’t find work in Philadelphia or the Carolinas, its like this is the land of milk and honey” Edward goes on to note that Richmond is a “very giving city” and there are a lot of resources available for families in transition. Once a resident leaves the shelter, there are programs that keep in touch to make sure they do not fall back into homelessness.

They key for families not falling back into homelessness is “following up and maintaining a connection”. Sometimes, Edward noted, that adults don’t necessarily have the knowledge base for those life skills. There are resources outside the shelter to help them acquire skills and the means to sustain and “put the wheels in motion” (nice unprompted cycling reference!). Social workers and case managers can work with families to help them meet their obligations, empower them, and make sure they are on the right track for success.

Edward told me with pride that there is a high success rate with families in Caritas shelter who move along and transition to be successful. Kudos to Edward for looking beyond the short term and providing families with hope for the long run.

You can check out the shelter's wish list here or make a donation directly to One Family, Inc., an organization that supports homeless families with scholarships as a direct path out of poverty towards economic independence