InRoads Winter 2025

President's Letter: Seeds of Change

Pathway Homes helps to plant the seeds of change for people with mental illnesses and other disabilities. The seeds are places to call home, caring staff, great support services, strong partners, and committed volunteers who help individuals with health and housing challenges to blossom and recover their lives.

In 2024, our collective efforts enabled more neighbors to experience the comfort and joy of a home, and the peace and stability that comes with having a permanent address where they can receive mail, close the door for privacy, make a meal, and get the help they need to nurture a new life. This past year, we found ourselves in a similar position to many of the people we serve. As a nonprofit that helps those in need of affordable housing, we also face that situation as our current location is scheduled to be torn down...

Read Sylisa's Letter

In Their Own Words

My name is Judy Fitzsimmons. I have been housed through Pathway Homes since 2022, but I first got connected when COVID hit in 2020. I was homeless; living in a tent with my dog, Karma; hiding, trying to get away from a very abusive domestic partner. My life sucked pretty much in every way...

Continue reading Judy's story

Donate to Help More People Like Judy

Fannie Mae Volunteer Projects Beautify Homes

Thank you to Fannie Mae and every volunteer who dedicated their time and energy during the fall months to help beautify our residences! Their commitment to making a difference reflects the very best of community partnership and social responsibility.

For many of our residents, having a well-kept home represents more than just aesthetics, it's about pride, security, and a renewed sense of belonging. The care and attention these volunteers poured into their work demonstrates compassion and action; leaving behind not just physical improvements but a powerful message-- you are seen, and you are valued.

The Future Home of Pathway Homes

We are excited to announce that Pathway Homes has acquired a -19,000 square foot building in Fairfax City.

Renovations on the commercial space on the ground floor of the building will be finished in early 2027. The mixed-use building will function as Pathways’ new headquarters and will include at least 10 units of affordable supportive housing to help people with serious mental illnesses and other disabilities who are over 50 to age in place.

“Pathway Homes needs a new home, and we plan to make it one that serves our community even better. It will give us the space to run the nonprofit while also providing housing and direct services to residents,” explained Sylisa Lambert-Woodard, CEO, Pathway Homes. “We are excited to transform commercial property into an innovative, multi-use facility that will help us address the affordable housing crunch that hinders our ability to serve more people.”

Annual Steps to Pathways Breakfast

Raises Nearly $200K

From left to right, Supervisor Kathy Smith, Mayor Catherine Read, US Rep. Gerry Connolly and Board President of Pathway Homes, Angie Garcia Lathrop

The 2024 Annual Steps to Pathways Breakfast, which raised nearly $200,000, was held on Friday, November 1st. It was a success made possible by the incredible attendees, clients, honorees, and generous supporters. Congressman Gerry Connolly, a longtime supporter of Pathway Homes, opened the event by reminiscing about his time on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. He recalled this as a time when Pathway Homes was starting out as a coalition of family members seeking better support for their loved ones with mental illnesses, and mental health professionals who believed that safe and decent housing with support services was necessary for recovery. Connolly said the intersection of mental illness and homelessness is a pressing issue—about 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness report having a serious mental illness.

“I’m a firm believer Pathway Homes is dedicated to changing this narrative. Pathway Homes not only addresses immediate housing needs but also tackles the underlying factors that contribute to mental health struggles," Connolly said. “You focus on helping individuals develop and strengthen the skills needed to manage their mental and physical health, maintain their homes, enhance personal relationships, and adopt healthy life habits.”

Attendees heard from clients whose lives have been transformed by Pathway Homes. Yerusalem Work, who spoke at the event, eloquently described what having a place to call home meant to her. Because of a physical injury and an onslaught of symptoms from a severe mental health condition, she found herself labeled as disabled.

But she said that her diagnosis does not define her, and that she is so much more than an illness. “When ‘I’ becomes ‘We,’ the word illness becomes wellness,” Yerusalem said. “Community building is how I transitioned from suffering with an illness to thriving and experiencing wellness. Pathway Homes was the miracle in my life that gave me the freedom to live, love, and work.”

Mayor Catherine Read received Pathway’s Spirit of Hope Award for support of mental health and affordable housing. The Spirit of Hope Award is given to a leader who has been a beacon of hope to those struggling with recovery from mental illnesses.

Mayor Read’s voice and leadership have been instrumental in helping end homelessness through permanent supportive housing. As part of her efforts, she started the Fairfax City Homelessness Task Force to address the impact of homelessness within Fairfax City for both individuals experiencing homelessness and the greater community. Shelley Murphy, former CEO, Wesley Housing, was also recognized, receiving the Joyce Flynn Award for her lifetime achievements as a housing advocate. Murphy guided the retooling of nonprofit developer Wesley Housing, helping it more than double the number of housing units and expand resident services programming to all its residents.

In addition, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation was recognized with the Corporate Citizen Award for its leadership and critical funding related to housing and mental health in the DMV.

New Roof Donated by DryHome

Throughout November, Sterling-based DryHome accepted nominations from customers and the community to identify a Northern Virginia individual, family, or nonprofit in need of a roof.

DryHome selected Pathway Homes as the recipient based on the important work it does to help others, its needs, and the condition of the roof.

"Pathway Homes is a wonderful nonprofit that is helping Northern Virginians struggling with homelessness and mental health issues regain their lives,” explained Steve Gotschi, CEO, DryHome. “Knowing that we are helping Pathways serve more people and that their clients will be celebrating the holidays under a new roof brings joy to our DryHome team.”

“This is an amazing gift, and we are grateful for being a second time recipient of a new roof. DryHome’s generosity ensures that we can reach more people with the resources this frees up," said Pathway Homes CEO Sylisa Lambert-Woodard. "Our clients have long struggled to keep a roof over their heads, so having a new, dry roof means the world to them too.

Pathway Homes Employees Giving Back

Each year, Pathway Homes employees receive a day of paid volunteer leave to serve the community in a cause of their choosing. During the winter holidays, Director for Community Support Services, Traci Morton Luzi and her team supported Foundations of Mercy, a nonprofit helping families in immediate need of assistance due to refugee status, or home loss due to natural disaster.

Thank you, Team Pathways, for making a positive change in even more lives even when you are not at work!