“When it comes to helping end homelessness, HomeAid Northern Virginia is one of the finest organizations around,” said Pam Kovach, executive director of the Good Shepherd Housing Foundation. “It would be impossible to calculate how far reaching their contributions have been, as they’ve worked with local builders to renovate and improve transitional housing and shelters in our area. We could give dollar amounts, but it goes so far beyond that.”

So began Kovach’s description of the latest HomeAid project: the renovation of one of Good Shepherd’s homes, with Augustine Homes serving as Builder Captain.

Improvements, which included mold remediation, a renovated kitchen and a new bathroom, totaled more than $47,000 in value. The home, reserved for families of very low income, is unusual in Prince William County because it does not have specific time restraints on how long a family can live there.

“Good Shepherd provides flexibility to families who need more time to obtain their own housing, but it means they don’t qualify for ‘short-term transitional housing’ grant funding from the County,” explained Christy Eaton, executive director for HomeAid Northern Virginia. “That has made this project extra satisfying, knowing that Augustine Homes and HomeAid were helping an organization that is doing so much to work with the unique needs of all families.”

“Just the other day, one of the teens who will be living there told me how much the family loves it, and shared the good news that she will be going off to nursing school soon,” Kovach added. “It reminded me how important projects like these are—not only can they end homelessness for the current generation, but they also can help stop the cycle from being passed on to the next generation.”