Groundbreaking of $650,000 improvement project to be led by four local homebuilders who put competition aside to collaborate on transitioning families out of homelessness

Alexandria, Va. – May 9, 2017 – Formerly homeless families will soon have newly upgraded residences, following a new collaboration between Community Lodgings and HomeAid Northern Virginia to renovate Community Lodgings’ six-unit supportive housing apartment building in the City of Alexandria. Community Lodgings helps homeless and low-income families by providing a variety of affordable and transitional housing options. HomeAid Northern Virginia builds and renovates homeless shelters and supportive housing facilities via the donated expertise, labor and resources of local homebuilders.

The full renovation of the 10,446 sq. ft. Community Lodgings building will be coordinated by HomeAid and completed by a consortium of four local homebuilders: Brookfield Residential, Evergreene Homes, M/I Homes, and Richmond American Homes. The project will entail gutting, rebuilding and upgrading all supportive housing units in the building from the ground up. As part of the update, the building will be reconfigured to accommodate seven, rather than six apartments, enabling more families to call the property “home.”  The groundbreaking was held today with each involved organization, local officials and community advocates. (Photos available upon request.)

The renovated building will, once completed, provide housing stability for families who are transitioning out of homelessness and working toward self-sufficiency through Community Lodging’s comprehensive programs of transitional housing, affordable housing, and education.

At an estimated $650,000 in construction costs, this will be one of HANV’s larger undertakings. HomeAid, the consortium of four builder captains and their network of trade partners are anticipating to cover a significant portion of the costs via donated labor and materials, enabling Community Lodgings to invest more funds into its programs and services rather than into construction costs. The City of Alexandria, Virginia Community Capital, and the Virginia Housing Development Authority are also providing funding.

While HomeAid has led more than 114 construction and renovation projects for shelters and supportive housing units across Northern Virginia since its founding in 2001, because of the large scope and cost of the renovation, this is the first time it has organized a formal consortium of multiple builders to co-lead as joint project “builder captains.”

“Housing provided by organizations like Community Lodgings make a direct impact in the prevention and elimination of homelessness and housing instability across Northern Virginia. HANV’s pulling together a consortium to lead this project with the help of Brookfield Residential, Evergreene Homes, M/I Homes and Richmond American Homes represents our desire to take on a large, costly and high-impact project that not many builders could handle alone,” said Kristyn Burr, executive director of HomeAid Northern Virginia. “This is a great example of the spirit of cooperation: local homebuilders putting aside natural business competitiveness to work together, and work with HANV, Community Lodgings and with the City of Alexandria to have impact on the local community.”

“Our work is about giving families a stable, secure place to call home. Once again, HomeAid Northern Virginia and its network of builder partners has been given the opportunity to work toward our mission of ending homeless in our community,” said Lynn Thomas, Executive Director of Community Lodging. “The renovation will be a dream come true for the residents who will create homes and rebuild their lives here.”

The project is HANV’s fourth project with Community Lodgings to improve and update the transitional and affordable housing it provides.

About HomeAid Northern Virginia

HomeAid Northern Virginia, a chapter of HomeAid America, engages the resources and interests of the homebuilding community and its corporate partners in order to undertake new construction and major renovations to properties owned by homelessness service providers that help homeless individuals and families gain stability and get back on the road to self-sufficiency. The organization was started in 2001 by members of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association (NVBIA), and since then, has completed more than 114 projects valued at more than $14.7 million, serving more than 98,000 homeless individuals.

About Community Lodgings

Community Lodgings lifts families from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency through its transitional housing and affordable housing options, as well as community outreach and youth education programs.

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