Homeaid Northern Virginia Announces the Kick-Off of the Carpenter’s Shelter Project

Join representatives from HomeAid, Builder Captain EYA and Carpenter’s Shelter on Thursday, April 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

CHANTILLY, VA – HomeAid Northern Virginia, Builder Captain EYA and Carpenter’s Shelter will kick-off the renovation of Carpenter’s Shelter residential facility on N. Henry Street in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, on April 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. This is the first renovation project for Builder Captain EYA and the first time HomeAid has partnered with Carpenter’s Shelter on a project.

“We’re so appreciative that our partnership with HomeAid Northern Virginia will give us the tools and space we need to fulfill our mission as teachers who work to create self-sufficiency for homeless and formerly homeless children, families and adults,” said Fran Becker, Executive Director of Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria. “In addition to HomeAid Northern Virginia, I’d like to thank several other organizations in our wonderful, caring community for their support – Builder Captain EYA, Rust Orling Architecture and Commercial Carpets of America.”

Builder Captain EYA will work with trade partners to renovate existing interior space to provide much needed classrooms and counseling rooms in the building Carpenter’s Shelter has occupied since 1999.

“Our philosophy is to give back to the communities we work in,” said John Fahey, Builder Captain EYA’s Sr. Vice President. EYA was established in 1992 with the vision of building innovative urban neighborhoods to the highest standards. “We’ve been active in Alexandria since the founding of the company. We have a new project that we are working on with the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority that will bring a diversity of housing options to a five-city block area in Alexandria. Getting involved with this project is our way of saying thank you to the community and to the city.”

“Carpenter’s Shelter is a catalyst for positive change in people’s lives,” said HomeAid Northern Virginia Executive Director Christy Eaton. “We are proud to support their work. I also want to thank Builder Captain EYA for agreeing to lead this project.”

HomeAid Northern Virginia, a chapter of HomeAid America, was founded in 2001. Since then, builders and supporters have donated $8 million in labor, materials, management and other resources to either rebuild or rehabilitate homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities in Northern Virginia.

HomeAid Northern Virginia and Builder Captain EYA to Kick-Off Renovation of Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria

When: Thursday, April 1, 10:00 a.m.

Where: Carpenter’s Shelter, 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria, Virginia

Who: Representatives of HomeAid Northern Virginia, EYA and Carpenter’s Shelter will speak about the renovation. This event is open to the public and media.

Why: Carpenter’s Shelter was created in 1988 and today serves as a national model of a community working together to end and prevent homelessness. As Northern Virginia’s largest homeless program, the organization’s mission is to end homelessness through services, education and advocacy. Carpenter’s Shelter serves more than 1,000 homeless and formerly homeless children, families and adults each year through interrelated programs that focus on ending the cycle of homelessness through education and life-skills.

HomeAid Northern Virginia builds and renovates homeless shelters, transitional houses, food banks, medical clinics, counseling centers, and other facilities that help homeless people gain stability and a roof over their heads. HomeAid leverages the resources of the homebuilding community and its corporate partners to conduct major renovations to shelters and homes to provide safe, stable and new living arrangements for previously homeless persons. HomeAid’s partners and resources help to significantly reduce the construction costs to care provider organizations; thereby allowing them redirect those dollars back into programs and services for these homeless families and individuals.