3/23/2026 12:00:00 AM
Shelter Response Team
The City of Richmond established emergency shelter at the Southside Community Center and warming centers at the Main Library and Linwood Robinson Senior Center between 1/23/26 and 2/3/26 during the state of emergency declared by Mayor Avula in response to the severe winter weather that occurred. Once requested by the Emergency Operations Center, several RBH staff responded to the shelter to provide support for the DSS shelter staff and the individuals housed at the shelters. These employees braved hazardous driving conditions to provide an in-person response to those who most needed support. Those involved included Naiya Wright-Chapman, Anna Merlene, Jacinta Cobb, Robert Gill, Trevin Colclough, Jamara Corbin-Rainey, and Jacquetta Cobbs; representing teamwork on an inter-divisional level. Due to this response, multiple individuals were linked with other services like the Crisis Receiving Center and Crisis Stabilization Unit. RBH staff were able to provide person-centered support to those experiencing mental health symptoms such as emotional dysregulation, hallucinations, delusions, and mood episodes. In most cases, these staff responded to the shelter outside of their 40-hour workweek, traversing ice-covered roadways to do so. Over 70 hours of support were provided by our staff during this emergency. All who were involved in the shelter and warming center responses exemplified the mission of RBH, fearlessly championing the health, wellness, and recovery of individuals in our community who relied on these settings for their survival during harsh conditions.