Group Homes in Fairfax for Individuals Living with Brain Disease and Mental Illness are now Upgraded, Optimized for Independent Living via Brain Foundation & HomeAid Northern Virginia Collaboration

Fairfax, VA – June 7, 2016 – Individuals in Northern Virginia suffering from brain injury or brain diseases, such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorders, now have newly upgraded residences to call home with the completion of extensive renovations of two group homes run by the Brain Foundation of Fairfax County. The Brain Foundation provides affordable, stable housing for those suffering from serious brain diseases who are homeless or vulnerable to becoming homeless.  The renovations were completed by HomeAid Northern Virginia, which builds and renovates homeless shelters and supportive housing facilities via the donated expertise, labor and resources of local homebuilders – enabling nonprofit organizations such as the Brain Foundation to invest more of their budgets in supportive programs and services rather than building expenses.

These homes provide stable, affordable and safe housing for an at-risk and vulnerable local population. Individuals with brain injury or brain disease are particularly vulnerable to becoming homeless.  An episode of psychosis, for example, can lead to homelessness. Homelessness itself can exacerbate chronic mental health issues.

Led by Builder Captain K. Hovnanian Homes, HomeAid Northern Virginia renovated two Brain Foundation group homes (one for men and one for women), investing more than $78,000 in improving the housing and amenities offered to Brain Foundation residents. Renovations and upgrades included updated kitchens and bathrooms, new flooring, repainting, mold abatement, and reconfiguring internal areas to ease co-living and shared space and create individual storage spaces. The four-bedroom houses are close to bus or train lines and within walking distance of a grocery store, enabling mobility for residents and fostering independence. The Foundation owns and runs nine houses in Fairfax County.

“One of the most important aspects of the projects—updating the kitchen and adding storage space and cabinets—makes such an enormous difference,” said Brain Foundation president Trudy Harsh. “It may seem like a small thing, but when a number of unrelated adults live together, having separate storage space is really important. Other improvements, including updating all three bathrooms and replacing old wall-to-wall carpet with hard-surface flooring, will make the house not only look more updated and beautiful, but it will make it easier to keep clean, and that too is such an important aspect of shared living space.” A total of 8 individuals live in the renovated group homes.

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 116 projects valued at more than $14.7 million, serving more than 112,000 homeless individuals.

Thanks to the 32 construction trade partners that contributed labor and resources to HomeAid Northern Virginia’s project with the Brain Foundation of Fairfax County: