Miriam’s House – Extreme Weather Center (Cold Weather Emergency Shelter)

A recent meeting document Lynchburg - Work Session Agenda Packet - 2026-05-12 indicates a future potential acquisition Miriam’s House, as the Lead Agency for the Central Virginia Continuum of Care, in partnership with the City of Lynchburg’s Department of Human Services, plans to use CDBG funding in support of services to assist individuals experiencing a housing crisis that are further complicated by extreme temperatures. There is no alternative cold weather emergency shelter in the Lynchburg area outside of this funding opportunity. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) identified a 198% increase in unsheltered homelessness within Central Virginia since 2019. Miriam’s House will issue a request for proposals (RFP) for subrecipient(s) to operate the cold weather emergency shelter for the 2026-2027 winter season, including the necessary staff and resources to run the facility, coordinate volunteers and ultimately connect unsheltered individuals to the temporary shelter during extreme temperatures. The structure would allow the Continuum of Care and the City to ensure the cold weather shelter could operate as a low barrier facility focused first on providing respite for the unsheltered and then, through that trust relationship, connect individuals with additional services.