On paper, our accomplishments in 2024 are easy to report: We completed four construction projects, five Turnover Projects, donated two custom-built playhouses, hosted six Care Days, and collected over 775,000 diapers and wipes for 37 different nonprofit partners. HomeAid and our partners donated over $394,518 in labor and materials, saving our partners an average of 95% in construction costs. We expanded and grew into new geographical regions as well, gaining new supporters and new partners along the way.
But what the numbers themselves don’t say is what actually resonates with me the most, and that is the thread of dignity that is woven through every single one of our accomplishments. A beautiful, clean, well-made home gives people a feeling of pride and restores their dignity. Diapers provide dignity for families who – without a plentiful supply – sometimes have to make terrible choices between whether to purchase diapers for their baby or something else they need equally as bad. Our Turnover projects erase stained and pollutant-filled carpets and instead offer gleaming, easy-to-maintain flooring, along with bacteria-resistant paint, giving families cleanliness, health, and the dignity that comes from living in a home where others have shown how much they care. Our Project Playhouse initiative give kids joy and the simple pleasure of imaginative play, which is so readily available to so many other children in our communities.
Ultimately, raising kids, keeping a home, and living life is hard enough. Our ability to restore dignity for so many individuals and families – through every single project and effort we do – is what gives me thanks this holiday season. Thank you for your extraordinary support, and may you enjoy the happiest of holidays.
With gratitude,
HomeAid National Capital Region is continuing our goal of housing people faster through our Turnover Program, which helps nonprofits quickly prepare housing units so that they can get individuals and families safely moved in with minimal delay. This fall, we completed two such projects for Pathway Homes: The first, a 715-square-foot unit in Manassas, included repainting and replacing old carpet with durable and easy-to-clean luxury vinyl planking (LVP), with a retail value of nearly $7,000. The second, in Annandale, was a 656-square-foot unit, where we also painted and installed LVP for a retail value of nearly $7,000. HomeAid covered 100% of the project costs for both Turnovers.
Our focus on painting and replacing flooring ensures long-term savings for HomeAid partners and dignified, healthier spaces for the clients they serve.
Carpet can trap pollutants like dust mites, pet dander, allergens, lead, mold spores, pesticides, dirt and dust. These pollutants may become airborne during vacuuming or even daily activities like walking on the carpet – and, since children spend time playing on the floor, they are more likely to be exposed. Additionally, replacing the carpet is not only expensive, but the chemicals and glues used in some new carpets, carpet pads, and adhesives can be harmful to people’s health too. In contrast, LVP flooring is waterproof and doesn’t scratch, indent, or stain easily, making it far friendlier to humans!
We are glad to have this opportunity to support Pathway Homes, a dedicated partner in our ongoing efforts to help those experiencing homelessness. Pathway Homes serves adults with severe mental illnesses and/or co-occurring disorders, including substance abuse or intellectual disabilities, through supportive services and housing.
Nonprofits: Do you have a housing unit that needs both new flooring and new paint before your next client moves in and calls it home? Complete the application here and return to Erica Simpson or call 703.953.3525 with questions.
Time is running out to participate in HomeAid’s Home Essentials Drive, which will close at the end of the year. We’ve made it extra easy to make an impact on the people we help serve: Just head over to our Amazon Wish List, where you’ll see a wide range of household essentials. Choose from a variety of small kitchen appliances, linens, towels, kitchenware, and cleaning supplies … and that’s it! Your purchases will be shipped directly to our office, where we’ll organize and deliver them to families and individuals moving out of homelessness and into housing that HomeAid and our partners have renovated and built.
We strive to meet people – and our nonprofit partners – where they are, filling gaps and making it easier to focus funding on programs and services that support individuals and families on their journey toward a life of independence. Help us make the safe and dignified housing that we work so hard to provide also feel like a welcoming home this holiday season!
Have questions? Please contact Erica Simpson.
Earlier this week, HomeAid National Capital Region, Builder Captain Knutson Companies, and supporters gathered to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of our recently completed renovation project at Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia’s Peace House in Leesburg. Renovations to the Peace House, a single-family home, included a remodeled kitchen with new appliances; updates to the HVAC system, bathrooms, and laundry room; fresh paint and new lighting throughout; repairs to the exterior stairways and windows in order to improve functionality; and enhanced storage and safety.
Knutson Companies along with Eastern Applicators, Noble Construction and VCI also built and installed a custom playhouse for the children who will live at Peace House. The gift of play and imagination have become an integral part of many HomeAid projects where young children live and grow, and we’re delighted that Knutson played such an integral role in making the main house beautiful as well as providing a brand-new playhouse for the littlest members of the resident family.
Good Shepherd seeks to empower and uplift women, children, and families experiencing homelessness by providing shelter, support, and resources that foster stability and self-sufficiency. Through compassionate care, educational programs, and community partnerships, they join HomeAid in a shared vision of creating safe and dignified housing for families in our region.
Thank you to Knutson Companies and the 19 Trade Partners who worked on the project and saved Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia $118,464 in labor, time, and expertise!
Since 2010, Masonry Masters, Inc., has been one of our most ardent supporters, regularly supporting HomeAid by attending and sponsoring countless events and fundraisers that allow us to carry out our mission. This year, the company also donated its expertise to our Peace House project, a home owned by Good Shepherd of Northern Virginia in Leesburg. Having partners we can count on – year after year – is critical to HomeAid’s success, and we are grateful for Masonry Masters. Find out what inspires them to keep saying, “Yes!” to HomeAid!
Q: Why does Masonry Masters continue supporting HomeAid, in such varying and important ways?
A: We first learned about HomeAid through our industry network and builder relationships, and we were immediately drawn to the organization’s mission. Since 2010, it has been inspiring to see how HomeAid creates a positive impact by providing safe and dignified housing for those in need. Each project we work on with HomeAid, like the Peace House, provides a great opportunity to pay it forward by giving back to the community. It’s a privilege to be part of a collective effort to support families in need, and we keep showing up because HomeAid’s work makes a real difference. Being part of that process is incredibly rewarding.
Q: If another trade partner was considering getting involved with and supporting HomeAid, what would you tell them?
A: Working with HomeAid is an opportunity to create lasting change beyond just building or renovating structures. It’s a chance to build hope for families and individuals facing hardship. Welove seeing the immediate impact our work has on people’s lives, along with the sense of purpose it brings to our team. Knowing that our work contributes to the community in a meaningful way is invaluable, and HomeAid’s dedicated staff and volunteers make it easy to get involved and stay connected.
Q: What have you been most surprised to learn about homelessness since your involvement with HomeAid began?
A: We’ve come to understand just how complex and widespread homelessness is—it touches people of all backgrounds and can often result from a single unexpected event, like a job loss or health crisis. We think what’s most surprising is realizing that homelessness can be closer than we think, affecting families who may have never expected to be in that situation. It serves to highlight so effectively the importance of HomeAid’s work – not only in creating housing solutions but also in bringing awareness to the realities of homelessness and inspiring compassion throughout our community.
HomeAid Receives Lido Grant!
HomeAid National Capital Region was recently awarded a $5,000 grant by the Lido Civic Club of Washington, D.C., which supports civic-minded efforts that benefit the Washington Metropolitan area. CEO Kristyn Burr and Communications & Marketing Director Courtney Bishop attended the Lido Club dinner to receive the award, with gratitude that they champion HomeAid’s work in the community.
TVBA Gala Greetings
We’re excited to join the Top of Virginia Building Association (TVBA) tomorrow night, December 6, for the President’s Gala at the George Washington Hotel in Winchester! With Winchester a major player in our expanded service region, we look forward to meeting and connecting with TVBA supporters and members!
Happy Holidays!
The HomeAid National Capital Region office will be closed from Tuesday, December 24, 2024, through Wednesday, January 1, 2025, so that we can enjoy some downtime with our families over the holidays. We will reopen on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
GolfAid
Thursday, March 13, 2025
3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
TopGolf Loudoun
20356 Commonwealth Center Dr.
Ashburn, VA 20147
