HomeAid is wrapping up an incredible year and if your new to our newsletter please allow me to catch you up. We started this year off by celebrating 20 years of making remarkable strides in our community. We completed 11 projects this year – 11! – with a total investment of $1,234,513. Yes, you read that right in the last 365 days, together we have put over a million dollars back into the community. Eighty percent of that was donated by our unbelievably generous supporters, which is a savings of nearly $560,000 for our partner organizations. Twenty years ago HomeAid only partnered with homeless shelters but over the last two decades our work has expanded to include nonprofits who are providing services to people to help them stay on their feet and prevent them from becoming homeless. That’s why in 2021 we partnered with nonprofits who work with domestic violence victims, veterans, senior citizens and thrift stores. We work with a broad spectrum of organizations who are providing critical services to clients who are are taking life skills classes, recovering from addiction, transitioning from incarceration, healing from trauma, learning how to budget and mending personal relationships. So when we say we invest in our communities, that’s the kind of investment we’re talking about; yes, we’re building and improving buildings, but more importantly, we’re building our partner’s reservoirs, expanding their capacity, and improving the lives of thousands of men, women, and children.
It’s been an amazing 20 years, and I’m so proud to be part of HomeAid Northern Virginia’s story. Thank you for playing a starring role!
Happy Holidays,
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HomeAid Northern Virginia’s 20th Annual “Masquerade 2.0” Gala & Auction capped off two decades of service on November 13, welcoming over 400 supporters to a festive night of celebration at
Lansdowne Resort and Spa in Leesburg. By night’s end, more than $450,000 had been raised to support HomeAid’s mission of renovating homeless shelters and supportive housing facilities. In addition to the funds received through sponsorships, ticket sales, and the silent and live auctions, $86,000 was raised during the Paddle Challenge, with a $20,000 match donation coming from Doug and Ann Smith. HomeAid also announced and honored three recipients for our prestigious Presidents’ Circle Awards. The 2021 Awards, sponsored by James Hardie, recognized the following people and organizations for their work in advancing HomeAid’s mission:
Presidents’ Award: Barry Schwartz (awarded posthumously)The HomeAid Northern Virginia Presidents’ Circle Awards recognize those in our community who have gone the extra mile to further HomeAid’s mission of building new lives for those experiencing homelessness. Barry Schwartz joined the HomeAid Board in 2004 and served as president in 2007. He gave his all to support HomeAid’s mission, whether by chairing our shelter projects committee, guiding and working with our board, or leading a project as Builder Captain through his homebuilding company, Schwartz Enterprises. Barry was loved by many, and his legacy will live on through the work we do
Trade Partner of the Year Award: Falcon Heating & Air ConditioningHomeAid’s trade partners are those in the home building industry who play meaningful roles in HomeAid’s construction projects by donating materials, time, labor and expertise. Since 2010, Falcon Heating & Air Conditioning has lent its services to 17 construction projects and invested more than $60,000 in labor and materials. The company has provided an additional $57,000 in sponsorships and other financial donations, all of which directly support HomeAid, the nonprofits we serve, and, ultimately, the families who call these projects home.
Nonprofit Service Provider Project of the Year Award: Operation Renewed Hope
Operation Renewed Hope provides housing and supportive services to our nation’s veterans who are experiencing homelessness, and this project – completed by HomeAid Northern Virginia, Builder Captain christopher companies, and trade partners – expanded a three-bedroom, 1.5 bath split-level home into a four-bedroom, three full-bath home with an accessible bedroom and bathroom. Renovating this original 1950s home helped revitalize a neighborhood and helped Operation Renewed Hope serve larger families. In addition to the award, Operation Renewed Hope received a $1,000 donation and enjoyed a Gala table for 10, sponsored by HomeAid.
Buhl Electric Co. served as the presenting sponsor of the event, with nearly 50 additional
event sponsors joining in. Thank you to all for making this year’s event an enormous success!
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“Up until a month ago when HomeAid and partners
completed the renovation of our Fairfax County property, we had bed space for four women and children survivors of domestic violence,” said Bethany House Board President Brad Womble at HomeAid Northern Virginia’s 21
st Annual Gala & Auction in November. “As I stand before you tonight, we can now serve double the people – like the family who fled across the county to escape their abusers. You’ve given so much to Bethany House and to the women and children we serve. You’ve allowed us to keep our doors open and expand the number of people we can serve in Northern Virginia. Thank you.”
Meet Nyonna, just one of the hundreds of women served by Bethany House, who gave herself a chance, escaped, and found refuge and new beginnings at Bethany House. And,
see a previously uninhabitable property transformed, for many more women and children like her.
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Our annual diaper and wipes drive is nearing the finish line, with just a few weeks left to reach our goal of 50,000 diapers and 50,000 wipes by December 15.
Please help us make the most of these final days:
- Organize a diaper and wipe drive; we can help you with collection boxes and promotional flyers.
- Shop our Amazon wishlist, which will ship directly to our HomeAid Northern Virginia office.
- Schedule a time to drop off donations at our office at 3684 Centerview Drive, Suite 110B Chantilly, VA 20151.
Diapers are a huge expense for families, costing up to $1,000 a year per child – and, unfortunately, diapers and wipes cannot be purchased using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) funds. All donations collected will be distributed to HomeAid Northern Virginia’s nonprofit partners that focus on alleviating poverty and ending homelessness, many of whom serve single moms and their babies.
Nonprofits in Need: If you would like to be included in our distribution, please contact
GeorgeAnne Harter at 703.953.3529
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Every January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires Continuums of Care (CoCs) to conduct sheltered counts of people living in emergency living in emergency shelters or transitional housing. On odd-numbered years, HUD also requires unsheltered counts of people living in a place considered unfit for human habitation (such as in cars, abandoned buildings or outdoors). Known as the Point in Time (PIT) Count, the 2022 date will occur across the country on January 23.
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For 20 years, HomeAid Northern Virginia has been addressing a need in our community that no one else is tackling: partnering with the best and brightest homebuilders and trade partners in our region to create safe and beautiful spaces for nonprofits wo are providing life-changing programs for people at risk of homelessness. We’ve expanded to nine counties and municipalities, most recently completing our first project in the City of Winchester – a residential shelter for men where they can receive housing and wrap-around services. We close gaps between what is donated and what the construction projects cost, giving us the ability to do everything from purchasing bunk beds to enabling non-profit beneficiaries to reroute precious funding to programs and client needs. We’ve replicated this magic through 165 completed projects, with eight more already slated for next year.
But don’t just read the numbers and try to imagine the impact;
see with your own eyes some of the people behind the scenes making magic happen every day for thousands of men, women, and children coming out of crisis and into a place of healing and growth. Watch our 20
th anniversary video!
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Twenty years ago, Steve Alloy, president of Stanley Martin Homes, was serving on the board of the Alternative House, Northern Virginia’s only emergency homeless shelter for teens. The building was in disrepair because all of the money was going into the programs for the kids, and Steve thought, ‘This is crazy, I know a bunch of guys who can make this place feel more like a real home.’
At the same time, Don Knutson, then the local president of Beazer homes, heard from his Chairman, who served on the HomeAid America (HAA) national board, who asked, ‘HAA would love to start a chapter on the east coast; do you think that would work in Washington?’
Don called Steve with an idea for scaling the HomeAid blueprint in the region, and Steve told Don about the teen shelter. And with that, a new chapter, literally and figuratively, was launched, and HomeAid Northern Virginia had its first project. In the 20 years since, what do Steve and Don think about what they helped create? Read on to hear from both still-heavily involved founders!
Q: What do you view as HomeAid Northern Virginia’s longest-lasting legacy?
A: (Don) Certainly, our impact on our non-profit partners and those experiencing homelessness is enormous. But I would say that ultimately, our biggest impact is our ability to harness the entire homebuilding industry under one umbrella. We have this huge number of people all wanting to do good things, and while individual companies have their own private charitable efforts, HomeAid has been able to leverage our talent, all the way through to suppliers and subcontractors, to work toward one common goal. It says a lot about this industry: We’re competitors, but we’re collegial, respectful of one another, and work well together.
Q: Why should someone get involved in an organization like HomeAid?
A: (Don) We’ve both been involved for 20 years, and we’ve seen our Board change constantly over the years. That’s a good thing: Every time someone new joins, they bring new ideas and new energy. There’s nothing staid about the HomeAid Board; we welcome new members all the time, and we as a Board see that new energy as the lifeblood of the organization. It’s why we get so much done, with our incredible staff.
(Steve) We all also have a responsibility to give back. All communities need to be supported by not only the people who live in those communities and the religious and civic organizations in those communities, but also by the businesses that operate in those communities. While government can help, it’s the people in the community that need to take the lead to improve things. We have to do our part to help make this a thriving area for everyone.
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Data from PIT Counts are submitted to HUD and is critical to effective planning and performance management toward the goal of ending homelessness for each community. The PIT count is also the main data source for measuring progress on the goals of Opening Doors, the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness.
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Good 360 Delivered
Good360’s mission is to close the need gap by partnering with socially responsible companies to source highly needed donated goods and distribute them through its diverse network of nonprofits. HomeAid is excited to announce Good 360 donated 140,000 diaper wipes to our Builder’s for Babies Drive.
Thank You
Gannett Media Corp’s local media sites and publications provide consumers and businesses with information and insight to connect, act, and thrive. The Gannett Foundation supports that purpose by investing in local and national organizations that work on the ground to enhance the lives of our neighbors and build community. HomeAid recently received a $10,000 donation from Gannett to support our general operating expenses. Thank you Gannett for your generous contribution!
Interns Make a Big Difference
Each semester (spring, summer and fall), we offer internships to students seeking opportunities to learn more about event planning, gain real-world experience, and perhaps receive college credit. This last semester, we had the pleasure of working with Katie Martineau who spent 15 hours a week interning with us here in the office. Katie is a JMU graduate who mostly worked on Gala-related projects as well as Diaper Drive tasks. On behalf of the staff at HomeAid, we want to thank Katie for coming into the office everyday with a smile on her face and lending a hand wherever needed.
Holiday Closure
The HomeAid Northern Virginia office will be closed from Friday, December 24, through Friday, December 31, 2021, so we can enjoy a little downtime with our families over the holidays. We will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022.
[divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”1″ divider_color=”accent-color”]HomeAid GolfAid Thursday, March 3, 2022, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. TopGolf Loudoun 20356 Commonwealth Ctr. Dr. Ashburn, VA Now open for registration!
In this newsletter:
Executive Director & CEO Corner
Barry Schwartz, Falcon Heating and Air Conditioning, and Operation Renewed Hope Honored at Annual Gala & Auction
Watch an Uninhabitable Property Transform
Last Chance! Builders for Babies 2021 Diaper Drive Wrapping Up Soon
20 Years. 20 Ways of Making a Difference
Steve Alloy and Don Knutson: Launching a New Chapter
