Charlottesville Tomorrow

As Charlottesville's self-imposed deadline to clear the Free Bridge encampment approaches, the city has not yet finalized details for an emergency shelter space or completed its outreach to encampment residents. Unhoused community members say they're largely in the dark on the city's plans and are wary of moving to a new location or trusting out-of-state agencies they have never worked with previously.

Good Samaritan Program Director Valencia Bailey embraces Town of Orange Finance Director Dianna Gomez during an Orange Town Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. Love Outreach Food Pantry Co-Treasurer Bonnie Garrett, at left, and Orange Mayor Harrison Cluff look on.

At the hospital in Lynchburg where Tami Jaynes delivered Jacob, the hospital staff offered her and her family support after the stillbirth. They gave the family a kit to make molds of Jacob's little hands and feet, a box of gifts put together by another family who lost their baby, and a toy elephant that Tami's family started to refer to as Jacob. Jaynes is one of many mothers in central Virginia who are navigating a shrinking network of obstetric care as rural hospitals like Centra Southside Community Hospital close their labor and delivery units.

The program gives students and early-career professionals hands-on experience in journalism, digital media and audio production.

Created independently by Charlottesville resident Olivia Hathaway, the "Food Map of the Valley" brings together hundreds of food resources across the region in one searchable place.

On September 1, the City of Charlottesville will clear an encampment that has grown along the Charlottesville bank of the Rivanna River, at Free Bridge and 0 East High St. Residents of the encampment — some of whom have lived there for two or three years — will be forced to leave and will not be allowed to return to camping in the area, which is located along a public trail.

UVA is seeking input from its community and its central Virginia neighbors as it plans the university’s future.

t the end of 2025, the City of Charlottesville purchased this building, located at 2000 Holiday Dr., to turn into a year-round low-barrier shelter — something that currently does not exist in Charlottesville or the surrounding counties. City Manager Sam Sanders said safety modifications are underway to make it suitable for an emergency shelter.

About 30 people remained in the area as of the morning of Sept. 1.

While the clearing of the Free Bridge encampment may have appeared orderly, residents reported stolen belongings and some lost everything they owned in a fire.