No one plans to be homeless. But with an unexpected job loss, physical or mental disability, bad credit, low wages, divorce, or domestic violence, the need for housing is a reality for more than 5,000 people in Northern Virginia. That's 5,000 men, women and children who don't know where they will get ready for work or school, prepare a meal, do their homework, safeguard their belongings, or sleep at night.

 

For 15 years, HomeAid Northern Virginia has dedicated itself to working with local shelters that provide the programs and services that individuals and families need to get back on their feet and on the road to self-sufficiency. But we receive NO government funding to fulfill our mission; instead, we must depend on the donations of individuals, companies and foundations to fulfill our mission of ending homelessness in Northern Virginia and providing individuals and families with a safe, stable place to live.

 

In 2016, we invested more than $1 million into our Northern Virginia community and directly impacted the lives of 1,859 men, women, and children. We raised $870,000 through efforts such as grant writing, auctions, sponsorships and donations, while our partners did their part to change lives and give new hope to the homeless through $688,000 in in-kind donations.

 

In 2017, we are committed to doing it all again, with a goal of 10 more projects. But we'll need your help to change lives with a tax-deductible gift, which will help move families off the street, out of the woods, and from sleeping in their cars to a home that gives them hope for their future.

 

Your investment will also help shelter providers: Donations make it possible for shelters to redirect precious funding into financial services, job skills training, and other programs that help people plan for successful futures, rather than having to spend it on costly home maintenance and repair.

 

Cornerstones, for example, has rolled out two programs thanks to savings resulting from HomeAid projects: their signature housing program, " H.O.U.S.E. - Housing OpportUnities Strengthen Everyone", and a series of free workshops for residents of Cornerstones' housing, with topics including housekeeping, basic home maintenance, moving to self-sufficiency, and being a good neighbor.

 

"Seeing individuals and families living in beautiful, renovated spaces thanks to HomeAid and its partners, and benefitting from two new programs we were able to fund because of HomeAid cost savings, is huge," said Nicole de Lima Morris, senior asset manager for Cornerstones. "Programs like these facilitate life-changing achievements, and they build community ... they may be less visible byproducts of the investment that HomeAid and their supporters make every time they accept a project or make a donation, but for us, it's a game-changing reality."

 

Our willingness to invest in properties even inspires others to invest: "Grants for capital improvements are rare, and service grants, such as those that would help fund our Safe House, rarely allow capital expenditures," explained Steve Liga, CEO of ACTS Domestic Violence Services. "But after our grant monitor from the Department of Criminal Justice Services saw the impact that the HomeAid kitchen renovation had on the lives of our clients, she was much more open to allowing grant funds for improvements throughout the house. Our new kitchen led to other renovations and upgrades, such as new furniture, a retractable awning for the back deck, and plans for an addition to expand services-all with the support of grants that would have been difficult, if not impossible, to get without the initial investment by HomeAid and its partners."

 

Donate today, and find out even more ways to help in 2017!