When we first decided to launch our Home Essentials program, we had one primary thought in mind: We wanted to make it easier for individuals and families moving into one of our completed renovation projects to make their new house feel like home. We recognized that the expense of stocking a house with essentials is overwhelming and expensive, and our goal is to lighten that financial and psychological load for people who have already been through so much. Years after our first basket of “Welcome Home” essentials landed on the countertops of a recently finished project, we’ve pivoted to include a larger audience: Today, we also provide those same essentials to our nonprofit partners, for any of their properties, using specific lists they share with us to ensure we’re meeting the needs of the clients they serve.
We’ve already fulfilled more than 18 requests this year alone, providing items such as linens, kitchenware, cleaning products, and towels for three nonprofits throughout Northern Virginia. For the nonprofit, we’re removing an enormous burden from an organization that is already working so hard to get people safely housed and that may not have the resources to also focus on stocking the property with everyday essentials. For the people moving in, we’re giving them dignity and the pleasure of – perhaps for the first time in their lives – enjoying something new rather than a hand-me-down.
Without this program, we can say unequivocally that for some people, purchasing or acquiring what they need would be out of reach, and many would go without entirely, sleeping on bare mattresses or having to share a towel.
We operate the program year-round, of course, as items that bring comfort and cleanliness are always critically needed. Each November and December, we hold a dedicated collection drive to raise funding and collect inventory for our Home Essentials program. Whether you shop the wish list, donate directly, or host a collection drive, you can make the dream of moving into a new home significantly more manageable. During this season of giving, please put our Home Essentials program on your list!
With gratitude,
HomeAid National Capital Region’s biggest and most important fundraiser of the year is next month – Galaopoly, our 2026 Gala & Auction – and we’re looking forward to welcoming you to Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles on Saturday, November 7, 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
We’ll warm up with a champagne welcome and signature cocktail, photo booth, silent auction, cocktail ice luge, and live music. You’ll next enjoy a seated dinner, live auction and paddle challenge, and our Presidents’ Circle Awards, when we celebrate the very best of our building industry. You’ll also gain insights through shared stories of the people and nonprofits we directly support through our work, with many of our supporters telling us that our Gala is one of the first moments they really understood how they could directly make an impact on the people and communities we serve. Did you know, for example, that the funds we raise at our Gala are unrestricted, meaning we can focus our efforts to areas of greatest need?
Come for the fun, support our mission through a sponsorship, or consider becoming a Table Captain this year. Through your involvement, you’ll have the opportunity to introduce people you care about to HomeAid’s work and help them see the difference they can make when they invest in our mission. You can share why you support HomeAid and give others the opportunity to become part of something bigger than themselves. Be part of the solution to ending homelessness; together, we’ve changed over 450,000 lives within our region since 2001, and it’s events like our Gala that bring critically needed funding to support our mission. Join us on November 7!
Dress code for this year’s Gala is black tie optional, and a limited number of rooms have been reserved for HomeAid Gala guests. Book your room by Friday, October 9!
HomeAid National Capital Region, Builder Captain Stanley Martin Homes, and Trade Partners are partnering with Micah Ecumenical Ministries to transform the former Princess Anne Hotel in Fredericksburg into stable, supportive housing for individuals transitioning from homelessness to permanent supportive housing. The 13-room motel will undergo a full renovation from floor to ceiling, including new windows, flooring, paint, bathrooms, doors, and other essential improvements. The project will also create a shared communal kitchen and laundry room, along with updates to plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems and repairs to the parking lot, providing residents with a safe, comfortable, and functional place to stay. When completed, the renovated property will provide a stable stepping stone where individuals can focus on healing, growth, and building a path toward long-term housing stability.
Micah Ecumenical Ministries traces its roots to nine downtown Fredericksburg churches that began caring for people experiencing homelessness in the late 1980s, by opening their church buildings for shelter and meals. Today, the mission of Micah is to cultivate a “continuum of compassion” with unhoused neighbors, focusing not just on immediate needs but on long-term stability and belonging. They envision a community where every person has a home, supported by wholistic care that honors each person’s dignity and supports their agency. Through these principles, Micah seeks to empower individuals while fostering a compassionate and connected community.
Thank you to the golfers, sponsors, and supporters who made our sold-out HomeAid Golf Tournament at Raspberry Falls on September 18 such a huge, and fun, success. Together, we raised vital funds to help HomeAid National Capital Region continue transforming lives through construction, community engagement, and education. Your generosity, enthusiasm, and participation made this event a success, and we could not have done it without you.
Whether you joined us on the course, supported the tournament as a sponsor, or volunteered, your support is making a meaningful difference. Because of you, HomeAid can continue creating safe, stable, and dignified spaces for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness throughout our region.
Thank you for being part of this important work and for helping us build stronger communities throughout our region.
Congratulations to the following golfers who, in addition to giving back, brought home bragging rights!
Special thanks to Bob Narod Photography for capturing the day and to all our volunteers for helping make the event such a success!
Stanley Martin Homes has been a partner of HomeAid’s for decades, most recently serving as Builder Captain for our project with Second Story last year. We’re thrilled to be working with them again this fall to transform a motel into housing with Micah Ministries in Fredericksburg. To learn more about this unique project, we sat down with Matthew Blake, manager of field operations at Stanley Martin, for his insights into this unique project.
Q: Micah Ministries is a fascinating project, with the renovation of a former motel into supportive housing. What are you most excited about in terms of the project itself?
A: At Stanley Martin Homes, we’re always looking for opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve, and partnering with HomeAid has consistently been one of the most impactful ways we can do that. When the opportunity to support Micah Ministries came along, it was an easy decision for our team.
What excites me most is both the scale of the project and the impact it will have. This isn’t just a renovation: We’re helping transform a former motel into supportive housing that will provide stability and hope for individuals working to rebuild their lives. At the same time, the property sits along a major Fredericksburg corridor and has been in disrepair for years. Seeing it transformed into something that serves both the community and its residents is incredibly rewarding. It’s a project that will make a visible difference and, more importantly, a lasting one.
Q: What have you learned about homelessness in the area through your support and involvement with HomeAid?
A: Homelessness is often about much more than simply lacking housing. During our initial meetings with the Micah Ministries team, they helped us understand that many individuals facing homelessness are also working to develop the everyday tools, skills, and support systems many of us take for granted.
What makes this project so impactful is that it provides more than just a roof over someone’s head. It creates an environment where people can focus on building stability, developing life skills, and taking meaningful steps toward independence. Learning more about those challenges has given our team a greater appreciation for the important work organizations like Micah Ministries do every day.
Q: What would you tell someone in the industry who was considering also lending their support to HomeAid?
A: Our partnership with HomeAid has given us the opportunity to be part of some truly meaningful projects over the years. While our day-to-day work is focused on building homes for our customers, HomeAid allows us to use those same skills and relationships to help people in need throughout our communities.
I would tell anyone considering getting involved that the impact extends far beyond the project itself. These efforts bring together builders, trade partners, suppliers, and volunteers around a common purpose. The collaboration strengthens relationships, creates a tremendous sense of pride, and reminds all of us why we got into this industry in the first place.
I’ve been continually impressed by the generosity of our trade partners and the willingness of so many people to step up and contribute their time, labor, and materials. Seeing everyone come together to support a cause larger than ourselves is incredibly rewarding, and it’s one of the reasons we’re proud to continue supporting HomeAid’s mission.
K. Hovnanian Homes Hosts Third-Party Benefit
Thank you, K. Hovnanian Homes Trade Partner Council, for choosing HomeAid National Capital Region as the beneficiary of your golf tournament on September 11, which resulted in a nearly $70,000 donation. Since 2019, this incredible event has raised more than $288,000 to advance HomeAid’s mission and help create safe, stable, and dignified spaces and programmatic facilities for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, and we are so grateful to the K. Hovnanian Trade Partner Council and all of its supporters.
Home Essentials Drive
Throughout the year, we distribute home essentials to individuals and families moving into our nonprofit partner housing, supplying everyday needs such as linens, kitchen items, and cleaning supplies. By donating these basic necessities, you can make a real difference in the lives of those we serve, helping them transition into stable, thriving homes with dignity and hope for the future. Purchase directly from our Amazon Wishlist or reach out to Kristyn Burr if you want to host a drive!
Welcome India
India, our new senior events manager, joins HomeAid with over 11 years of experience in event management, program development, and community engagement. Her professional background includes planning and executing large-scale events for major universities, educational institutions, and community organizations. She is passionate about creating impactful experiences, fostering meaningful partnerships, and delivering exceptional events that advances the organizational missions and leave a lasting impression. India is excited to join HomeAid and using her passion for event planning and community engagement to advance our mission of building a future where everyone has a safe and place to call home.
Welcome Erika
Erika, serves as events manager, joins HomeAid with experience in many facets of nonprofit program management. Through her past roles with small nonprofit teams, she developed experience and skills in project management, operations, volunteer management, event planning, communications, development, and data management. Having previously worked in the education sector, Erika has seen how access to stable, supportive housing and wraparound services is critical for kids to learn and families to thrive. She is excited to support the planning and execution of our events in order to help raise critical funds for HomeAid.
HomeAid Gala and Auction
Saturday, November 7, 2026
6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles
14750 Conference Center Drive
Chantilly, VA 20151
Toll Brothers Golf Tournament
Monday, October 12, 2026
Dominion Valley Country Club
15145 Sky Valley Drive
Haymarket, VA, 20169
