Homelessness in Virginia

Virginia is currently estimated to have a shortage of about 300,000 affordable rental homes. At the same time, housing costs in Virginia are rising much faster than wages, pushing more people into homelessness through no fault of their own. To be specific, an increase of just $100 in the area median rent is typically associated with a 9% rise in local rates of homelessness, per a 2020 study from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). 

During the annual Point-In-Time Count (PIT) in January of 2024, at least 7,141 Virginians were identified as experiencing homelessness – a figure based on a very narrow definition of homelessness, and one that is likely to be a significant undercount. However, at the same time, Virginia also reported having only 4,299 year-round shelter beds. This means that for thousands of unhoused Virginians, there is quite literally nowhere to go for shelter. 

Instead of addressing these shortages, many communities across the country – including over a dozen localities in Virginia – have responded by arresting, ticketing, or fining people for basic survival activities like sleeping, resting, sitting, or protecting themselves from the weather in public when they have no alternative private place to do so. This approach does not solve homelessness; in fact, it often makes the problem worse while costing communities more money. Sending police to handle what is fundamentally a housing and health issue is expensive, ineffective, and unfair to everyone involved. 

An Expensive and Ineffective Approach

Arrests and citations are counterproductive to the goal of ending homelessness. These measures actually result in people spending more time unhoused, because they pose additional legal and/or financial barriers that can make it even harder to qualify for housing or employment in the future. In addition, people experiencing homelessness often lose important items – such as medications, IDs, documents, mobility devices, and personal belongings – during this process.

It is also far more expensive to punish homelessness than it is to directly address it. When we choose these failed policies, Virginia taxpayers are left to pay the bill: 

• The cost of psychiatric hospitalization is $1,060 per day.
• The cost of keeping someone in jail is $145 per day. 
• The cost of supportive housing is $71 per day.

In Virginia specifically, the cost of providing a household with supportive housing for an entire year is the same as a six-month jail stay, or spending just 24 days in a state hospital. 

What is HB 1394 – The Right to Rest?

HB 1394 (The Right to Rest) – introduced by Del. Joshua G. Cole – would prevent arrests, tickets, or fines for basic survival activities like sleeping or resting in publicly owned and publicly accessible spaces, including in legally parked cars in such spaces. It applies only when people are not blocking access, traffic, or creating safety risks. Indeed, this bill is about common sense and fairness – and it does not limit a locality’s ability to manage public safety. This legislation recognizes that arresting someone because they don’t have a place to live doesn’t make our communities safer or cleaner — and it doesn’t get anyone housed, either. It just costs us all more and delays real solutions. 

HB 1394 is a practical first step toward spending smarter, reducing homelessness, and making Virginia communities work better for everyone. 

How Can I Get Involved?

We’re glad you asked! Here are a few ways that you can help to advocate for HB 1394: 

1. Sign up for action alerts from the Virginia Housing Alliance. You will receive notifications about key advocacy opportunities, along with helpful language that you can use when contacting your representative. 
   1. Here is the action alert page for HB 1394.
2. You can also reach out to your representative directly. This bill is being heard in the Virginia House of Delegates. To find your House representative, click here. An email, letter, or phone call to express your support can go a long way.
3. Follow @VirginiaHousingAlliance on social media – you can help us to spread the word about HB 1394.