Chesterfield Plans First County-Run Domestic Violence Shelter
TL;DR: Chesterfield County plans to open its first publicly operated domestic violence shelter in January 2028, with approximately 16 beds in a refurbished county-owned building.
Quick facts
- Who: Chesterfield County government, led by Clover Hill Supervisor Jessica Schneider, with operational leadership from Lindsay Cassada and Michelle Smith
- What: Opening a county-run domestic violence shelter (approximately 16 beds)
- When: January 2028
- Where: Refurbished county-owned building (location not disclosed for safety)
The story
Chesterfield County is moving forward with plans to establish the region's first publicly operated domestic violence shelter, targeting an opening in January 2028. The county-run facility will have approximately 16 beds and will operate with county staff and volunteer support.
The shelter is being housed in a county-owned building that is currently being refurbished. For safety reasons, the specific location has not been made public. The design phase is nearing completion, with construction set to begin soon.
Clover Hill Supervisor Jessica Schneider has championed the project. A survivor of domestic violence herself, Schneider said the initiative became possible after a budget surplus created the opportunity to move forward. "A lot of times if you don't have a place to go, that's one of the biggest reasons why people stay in relationships that are violent or abusive," Schneider said.
The shelter represents a significant gap-filler. Chesterfield has not had a dedicated shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence since 2007. In recent years, some individuals experiencing domestic violence have been temporarily placed in hotels, with police officers sometimes paying out of pocket for rooms. The YWCA of Richmond has handled abuse calls from much of the county, but lacks dedicated shelter space in Chesterfield itself.
The project is being led operationally by Lindsay Cassada, coordinator of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center, and Michelle Smith, director of Juvenile Justice Services. Cassada told media that the shelter has been the biggest missing piece of local services. "Shelter is going to be the biggest puzzle piece by far. It has been the biggest gap," she said. Smith added: "This is going to be life-changing."
County staff have visited other facilities to study best practices in shelter operations and design.
Key players
- Jessica Schneider: Clover Hill Supervisor and project champion
- Lindsay Cassada: Coordinator of Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center; operational leader
- Michelle Smith: Director of Juvenile Justice Services; co-leader of shelter operations
Key dates
- 2028-01-01: Planned opening of county-run domestic violence shelter (targeting January 2028)
The case for
A dedicated public shelter fills a 19-year service gap, eliminates reliance on hotel placement and volunteers' out-of-pocket spending, and provides a secure facility specifically designed for domestic violence survivors with trained staff and integrated services including counseling and safety planning.
The case against
Ongoing operational costs and staffing require sustained county budget commitment; shelter capacity (16 beds) may not meet all demand in a county of over 300,000 residents; location confidentiality limits community awareness and potential community support.
Why it matters: Residents experiencing domestic violence currently lack safe shelter within the county and are instead placed in hotels or referred outside the area. A dedicated facility will provide immediate safety and integrated support services to survivors during critical times.
Development timeline
- 2007-01-01Chesterfield domestic violence shelter closure: County loses dedicated shelter for intimate partner violence survivors; gap persists for 21 years until planned 2028 reopening [source]
- 2026-10-01Design phase nearing completion: Chesterfield County's planned domestic violence shelter moves toward construction phase with January 2028 opening target [source]
- 2028-01-01Planned shelter opening: Chesterfield County's county-run domestic violence shelter with approximately 16 beds expected to open [source]
Related links
- Chesterfield County Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center
- Clover Hill District - Jessica Schneider
- Chesterfield County Domestic Violence Task Force
Read the original at The Richmonder →
Sources
- This is going to be life-changing: Chesterfield to open the area's first publicly run domestic violence shelter
- Murders highlight Chesterfield's need for intimate partner violence shelter
- Chesterfield County Domestic and Sexual Violence Resource Center