Building Hope Newsletter, February 2022

Executive Director & CEO Corner

HomeAid Northern Virginia is, at its heart, a community of givers, volunteers, and supporters. And while every role that individuals and organizations play is a critical piece to our overall success, our trade partners are at the heart of so much of what we do. Whether they’re installing flooring or cabinets, tiling a bathroom, upgrading electrical, painting, landscaping, or roofing, they are unquestionably the expertise behind the scenes as they turn out by the dozen for every project. Working alongside our Builder Captains, they often provide some of the largest savings to every project as they donate their time, expertise and materials – savings that the nonprofits can then focus on programs and services rather than on capital improvements.

Being a trade partner can begin with a phone call with me, where we’ll talk about upcoming projects and locations, and find out how you would best like to help. To put it in perspective, we have 13 projects under construction or in the vetting process right now, and in the last week I’ve gotten calls on four more. We have locations in Arlington, Winchester, Fairfax and Loudoun, so trades can plug into projects in just about any geographical area. Some projects are quick renovations; others are ground-up new builds. You’ll work with our network of 50+ national, regional, and custom builders, and you’ll join our family of over 400 trade partners who have worked on our renovation and building projects over the years. The work you do will be so much more than paint or wiring or cabinetry; it’s about providing safety, dignity, and hope for people who may never have known what it’s like to have their own space. Find out more – we’d love to work with you.

With gratitude,

In the Spotlight

HomeAid, Merritt Construction Complete Thrift, Food Pantry Renovation

HomeAid Northern Virginia and one of our newest Builder Captains, Merritt Construction Services, recently completed a $100,000 renovation and build-out project for the House of Mercy Thrift Store and Food Pantry in Manassas. The building currently serves up to 1,800 people a month, including veterans, the elderly, those experiencing homelessness as a result of job loss, and families and individuals experiencing chronic poverty.

The project focused primarily on the addition of an interior, climate-controlled space for collecting and sorting donations – a big improvement over the parking lot collection area where volunteers and donations alike were exposed to harsh weather conditions. Merritt and nine trade partners also expanded a breakroom and kitchen area for the comfort and convenience of volunteers; dramatically increased storage and shelving space for both the food pantry and donation center; created an indoor walkway through the thrift store so that volunteers don’t need to walk outside; repainted the entire interior; and upgraded lighting fixtures with more efficient LEDs.

In addition to the now highly efficient space, this project will also mean significantly more funding available for House of Mercy programs that serve those in the community, thanks to the donated materials and expertise.

Welcome to the HomeAid family, Merritt Construction, and thank you for leading this important project! Many thanks to the following trade partners:

In Your Neighborhood

HomeAid, Van Metre, Toll Brothers Complete Buildout for PathForward

HomeAid Northern Virginia, Builder Captains Van Metre Homes and Toll Brothers, and 23 trade partners completed a large, $127,108 buildout project at Sibert House, a dedicated eight-apartment property owned by PathForward that is now home to chronically homeless individuals and veterans with significant needs and barriers to housing. The buildout and exterior refresh included the addition of a common room where residents can gather; laundry facilities; and an office for the onsite life skills coach, where staff can offer programming on topics as varied as learning life skills, acquiring equitable healthcare, and applying for benefits like Medicare and Medicaid, SNAP and WIC. Outside, fresh white paint on the brick façade, a new walkway and a beautiful pergola previously built by TouchStone Custom Homes were the finishing touches for the project.

Out of an abundance of caution, HomeAid Northern will not host a ribbon cutting due to covid-19 concerns, but we will celebrate the renovation and partnership in the spring with this organization that has, since 2007, helped 400+ people get into an apartment of their own, with 96 percent remaining in housing five years after placement.

In Your Community

Last Chance to Register for GolfAid!

Our 4th Annual GolfAid Fundraiser is just three weeks away – are you registered? This always-popular event will be held at TopGolf Loudoun on March 3, 2022, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., with 34 climate-controlled bays and three packed hours of unlimited play, networking with the region’s top homebuilders and trade partners, food, beer and wine. There are only a few bays left, so register soon if you plan to attend!

We’ll have a golfer registration option, which offers full access to everything the event has to offer, and a networker registration option, which offers access to the great food, great drinks, and networking. A prize for a Top Golf Platinum membership, good for three months, will also be raffled off!

All of the funds raised will support the multiple renovation projects we’ve lined up for the year, which in turn give new hope and change the lives of at-risk kids, single moms, veterans, intellectually disabled adults, and countless others who are coming out of crisis and need a hand up. Register today!

For more information, please contact Cilda Pretorius at 703.953.3525.

Did You Know?

The goal of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (FHA) was to prevent future discrimination, actively undo the lasting effects of historic discrimination, and “affirmatively further fair housing (AFHH).” Yet, the first meaningful AFFH regulations were not published until 2015 – almost 50 years after the passage of the FHA. Impediments identified in the Analysis of Impediments reports for the City of Alexandria and Arlington, Fairfax and Loudoun Counties include lack of affordability; persistent residential segregation; and regulatory constraints.

Source: Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance

Making It Count

Welcome Home Wish List Now Available Online!

HomeAid Northern Virginia builds and renovates housing and shelters for those who are at-risk for or who are experiencing homelessness. And while our completed projects provide safety and stability – and are dignified places to rebuild lives and find comfort – they are often missing many basic household essentials. To help, HomeAid’s “Welcome Home” baskets are a practical way to provide help and give back by coordinating the collection of NEW household essentials, from bed linens to bathroom and kitchen supplies and everything in between! By donating these essentials, we also help ease the financial burden on our non-profit partners, who can then focus funding on programs and services.

There are two ways to participate:

1) Shop our NEW online Welcome Home Amazon Wish List, which will send items directly to our office so that we can coordinate distribution where items are needed most.

2) Coordinate a drive through your office, book club, neighborhood association, or any other group to put together one or more Welcome Home Baskets – NEW items only! – for the families and individuals moving out of homelessness and into a new home or shelter residence. Then, drop off your donation at our office located in Chantilly.

No matter which option is your best fit, the result will be the same: Giving survivors of domestic abuse a safe place to call home. Giving an adult a secure place to keep his belongings and hang his clothes. Enabling our nonprofit partners space to provide job interview and life skills training to a single mom getting back into the job market. Keeping a baby dry and clean with fresh diapers and wipes. Find out more!

Did You Know?

Homeownership is one of the primary mechanisms of wealth generation in the U.S., but it is increasingly unattainable for low and moderate income households: A case study in the Bailey’s Crossroads Corridor showed that less than 20% of single family homes are affordable to households earning 100% of the area median income (AMI) for the DC metro region, and households earning 100% of AMI for the Bailey’s Crossroads Corridor would need upwards of four decades of savings to afford a single family home through a conventional mortgage and a 20% down payment. (According to the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, the Washington region’s AMI is $117,200 for a family of four.)

Source: Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance

Announcements

Shop and Support

For the month of February, each time a reusable $2.50 Community Bag is purchased at the Giant Food store located at 5615 Stone Road in Centreville, $1 will be donated to HomeAid Northern Virginia (unless otherwise directed by the customer through the Giving Tag). This is a great way to raise awareness, support the environment, and fundraise for our cause. Please help us spread the word by letting everyone you know in the Centreville area that now is the time to purchase reusable Community Bags

Top of Virginia

Collaborations are sure to continue in Winchester, after our CEO and Executive Director Kristyn Burr was invited to attend the Top of Virginia Building Association’s (TVBA) January Board Retreat. The 501(c)6 association represents home builders, trade contractors, suppliers, and related industry professionals based in the Shenandoah Valley, and with a 2022 priority focusing on philanthropy, Kristyn was excited to share information about HomeAid’s mission and help members understand how easy it is to give back to the community through their time and talents. After expanding into the Winchester region last year and with three more projects in the area teed up for this year, we look forward to building new partnerships!

Save the Date

HomeAid GolfAidThursday, March 3, 2022, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.

TopGolf Loudoun 20356 Commonwealth Ctr. Dr. Ashburn, VA

Registrar NOW! 

Builders and Friends BBQ

Thursday, June 16, 2022 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

The National Botanic Garden

HomeAid Golf Tournament

Friday, September 16, 2022 8:00 AM

Rasberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club

Gala and Auction

Saturday, November 12, 2022 6:30 PM

Lansdowne Resort and Spa