The SAW Housing Summit to focus on permanent supportive housing at Wednesday's Lunch & Learn
WAYNESBORO — The SAW Housing Summit Partners Lunch & Learn series will hold its fifth session Wednesday, March 20, at the Waynesboro Embrace Center from noon-1 p.m.
This session will focus on the topic of permanent supportive housing with Lydia Campbell, the community based services manager for Valley Community Service Board. Campbell will explain permanent supportive housing’s role in stabilizing housing for certain vulnerable populations.
Participation in this brown bag lunch series is free.
“Permanent supportive housing is a term that is thrown around a lot as a solution for folks experiencing homelessness,” Campbell said. “I think it’s really important that our community understands what it really is and best practices associated with it.”
The Lunch & Learn series is an outgrowth of the SAW Housing Summit held in October 2023. The two-day event was a collaborative effort of Augusta Health, Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, Valley Community Services Board, the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission and the Valley Homeless Connection.
The Lunch & Learn series serves as a way to expand those discussions.
"Housing is such a complex issue to fully understand, which is why the Lunch & Learn series has been such a useful way to bring the community together to focus on one specific topic at a time,” said Dan Layman, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge. “This gives us a great opportunity to take a deep dive into a single housing topic, as well as time between gatherings to digest and reflect on what we learned. It is much like putting together a puzzle one piece at a time.”
Past topics have included renter’s rights, Housing First as a methodology, property managers and accessible housing. The sixth Lunch & Learn, scheduled for April 26, will explore the role of thermal shelters. It will take place at Central United Methodist Church in Staunton from noon-1 p.m. For more information visit sawhousing.com
Campbell believes a community conversation on permanent supportive housing is timely.
“Folks who should come include landlords and property owners who want to be a part of the solution for our community’s most vulnerable people,” she said. “It’s for people who love or want to love their neighbors, and folks who want to see permanent supportive housing demystified.”
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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Permanent supportive housing to be focus of SAW Housing Summit event Wednesday
