Since 2001, HomeAid Northern Virginia and its partners have invested $13.6 million in our communities, $7.7 million of which was donated. Those donations, in turn, have enabled our shelter partners 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.

It's the kind of savings that are making a powerful difference: In 2015, for example, Cornerstones rolled out what is now their signature housing program, " H.O.U.S.E. - Housing OpportUnities Strengthen Everyone," thanks to savings resulting from multiple HomeAid projects.

"The resident incentive program . . .

Three HomeAid Northern Virginia projects are simultaneously underway with shelter partner Community Residences and Builder Captain Madison Homes; Pathway Homes and Builder Captain Christopher Companies; and Women Giving Back (WGB) and Builder Captain Knutson Companies. The combined projects will immediately impact hundreds of formerly homeless and at-risk individuals and families while building on HomeAid's legacy of leveraging the skills, expertise, and labor of the homebuilding community for the greater good.    

In fact, the impact of HomeAid projects . . .

In 2001, Beazer Homes was HomeAid Northern Virginia's first Builder Captain, renovating Alternative House and giving countless teens a safe haven. At the time, Alternative House's Executive Director Judith Dittman recognized that it would have been far cheaper to level the house and start over. Instead, Beazer worked in stages so that the shelter could remain open and ensure that kids in crisis always had somewhere to go.

It's a precedent that . . .

HomeAid Northern Virginia is looking for volunteers to collect new, unused kitchen and bath essentials for two projects: Pathway Homes and Community Residences. The collection effort, part of our " Welcome Home Baskets" program, will ensure that residents will have what they need as they move into renovated and beautiful homes, and will help shelters redirect critically important funding toward programs. It's also a great way to involve members of office, school, church, or sports groups who want to support HomeAid's mission.

Supply wish lists for both projects include:  . . .

Stephanie Berkowitz, HomeAid Northern Virginia Board Member and President & CEO of Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), is chairing HomeAid's Housing Forum committee  for the third time. Find out what drives her commitment to homelessness issues, and why she is looking forward to the upcoming Forum.

Q: How would you describe the relationship between NVFS and HomeAid?

 

A: At NVFS, we've had the benefit of working with HomeAid for many years. NVFS owns 17 affordable housing properties in the region, and thanks to HomeAid's partnership and the generosity and expertise of so many different Builder Captains over the years - including Stanley Martin Homes , Kettler Group , Beazer Homes , Miller & Smith , and Drees Homes - we've been able to maintain these properties and make much-needed structural and cosmetic upgrades. For the families who live in these homes, the pride and dignity they feel when they see that the community cares about their well-being is palpable.

 

With HomeAid's support and K. Hovnanian Homes as our Builder Captain in 2012, NVFS was also able to expand our 60-bed shelter on our SERVE campus into a 92-bed shelter, and thereby begin to address the growing trend of larger families needing emergency shelter. Each night, more than half of the people in our shelter are children. For the short time they are at SERVE, they feel proud, safe, and secure. Our job is to help these families find a permanent place to call home, but in the meantime, SERVE becomes their home. The builders and trade partners who contribute their time, talents, and resources are unsung heroes, bringing a sense of pride to individuals and families who are experiencing a crisis.

                 

Q: What is your connection to HomeAid, and what are the plans for this year's Housing Forum?

 

A: I have served on HomeAid's Board for the past two years, and this will be the third time I've chaired the Annual Housing Forum.

 

Each Housing Forum has built on the momentum of prior years, and it's now known as one of the region's most unique ways to gather housing and homeless service providers to discuss best practices, share practical experiences, exchange ideas, and learn from experts in our community. The nationally endorsed "rapid rehousing" model is one critical element of making homelessness brief, rare, and non-recurring, so this year, we will focus on partnerships and strategies that support a successful rapid rehousing system in our community. We are looking forward to bringing together our government and nonprofit service providers for a robust, cross-jurisdictional conversation.

                 

Q: What are your thoughts about the importance of community service?

 

A: When all aspects of the community work together, we can leverage each other's strengths, which has an exponential impact on the community. There are so many ways to serve-through volunteerism, financial and in-kind support, and individual and corporate engagement - and they're all critical to the success of nonprofit organizations like HomeAid . . .