Six days before a low-barrier shelter is scheduled to open, Charlottesville makes an agreement with the company that will operate it
The 2000 Holiday Drive shelter will open the same day the city says it will clear an encampment of dozens of unhoused people on the Rivanna River.
Q&A: Two Rivanna River encampment residents offer their views on how a shelter should be built — and how the city can regain trust
Jennifer Grant and Donnas “Dee” Chambers have been speaking out at Charlottesville City Council meetings. Here’s more of what they want to say.

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More local news
Town more than doubles this year’s funding for two Orange food pantries as need grows
“Right now, the high cost of food, the high cost of gas, living expenses — everything has contributed because now we have more people depending on us to feed their families,” Good Samaritan Program Director Valencia Bailey said.
Free Bridge encampment residents say they’re still in the dark as city’s Sept. 1 deadline nears
With two weeks to go, Charlottesville does not yet have a clear path for opening an emergency shelter space for the unhoused people who will be displaced.
Why Orange has Virginia’s shortest mayoral term — and why that may change
Residents are encouraged to give their input on whether to lengthen the term to two years during Orange Town Council’s next meeting on Monday, Aug. 17.
The Big Stories
No way out: How Virginia law fails vulnerable renters
Floods, roaches, rats, mold — this is Charlottesville Tomorrow’s investigation into how Virginia law often offers few options for renters in dangerous living conditions.
More than a month after Zamma Corporation’s sudden closure, many former employees are still without jobs — or answers
The Orange-based vinyl and laminate molding plant shut down without warning on March 2, leaving workers struggling to adapt to the abrupt transition in a difficult job market.
How Virginia’s re-entry system fails formerly incarcerated women — even when they do everything right
Jessica Cook, a single mother from Charlottesville, did everything the court asked. Her life shows how fragile “success” can be after incarceration for women.
Madison County residents demand stronger action after School Board member said Muslims ‘hate America’ and ‘will kill us when given the opportunity’
“He’s been known for making comments for years, so I feel like if they really wanted to find a solution, they would’ve solved it a long time ago and not waited until his term was almost over,” said 2025 Madison County High School graduate Willa Lewis.
FIRST PERSON
From housing to small businesses to vibrant culture, here’s what Richard Aguilar wants you to know about his community
The stories of Southwood, of thriving Latino-owned businesses and vibrant festivals, are not just isolated victories, writes Aguilar.
She spent 18 years in central Virginia prisons — and wants the world to know that incarcerated mothers matter
Candace Williams tells her story of being a woman in prison and the challenges of getting out.
With the season’s first snow came hateful speech for this Charlottesville resident
Brianna Patten writes about why she doesn’t trust the institutions meant to protect us — and what she worries about for the future.
The first step to creating our shared future is imagining it.
For Charlottesville Tomorrow’s 20th anniversary, we invited central Virginians to share their visions for the next 20 years.

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