When the University of Richmond installed modular units on campus last year, the hope was that they would be used infrequently.

Fortunately, that’s what happened. And with vaccination rates increasing on campus ahead of the start of the fall semester, the University no longer requires all of the units to support fall semester operations.

The University recently donated the five doublewide units to Family Crisis Support Services in Norton, Virginia.

“The University of Richmond is providing me with an opportunity to keep families together,” said Marybeth Matthews-Adkins, executive director of FCSS. “It is an absolute blessing in a season full of barriers.”

The donation comes at a crucial time for FCSS as its current building has significant structural and foundation issues. “The timing of this donation is phenomenal, as preventing gaps in service for those we serve is our utmost priority,” she added.

FCSS provides emergency shelter and transitional residential housing to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and also offers emergency shelter for victims of homelessness.

“We were fortunate that we did not have a strong need for the modular units during the previous academic year,” said Paul Lozo, director of environment operations, who oversaw the arrival and departure of the units. “We wanted to help the greater community. It’s nice to see something positive come from the many challenges of the pandemic.”

The University is keeping 20 singular modular units that can continue to serve students for isolation and quarantine purposes for the 2021-22 academic year, in case needed. “We’ll need to see how COVID-19 plays out this fall and spring,” Lozo said.

Those units can each house five students, for a total of 100 beds. If a student tests positive or shows symptoms, the student will be met and transported to one of the units. They will be supported academically, mentally, and nutritionally.