Alice Tousignant is the Executive Director of Virginia Supportive Housing. She holds a Masters degree in Social Work Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island. Alice has over 30 years of experience in the fields of housing, homelessness and social services. She is the past Director of the Virginia Housing Coalition and the Associate Director of the Division of Housing at the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. She is a founder and past President of Emergency Shelter, Inc. and past President of the Richmond Community Development Alliance. She is a graduate of Harvard's NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence in Community Development Leadership program, and a recipient of the Fourth Annual Virginia S. Peters Housing Award. Alice currently serves on the Board of Area Congregations Together in Service (ACTS) and is the Board Chair of the Virginia Collation to End Homelessness.
Archive for January 2010
The Feeling Of Safety, The Meaning Of Hope
January 26th, 2010
A recent poll among homeowners indicated that more than 30% experienced real fears of being homeless within the last year. All the while, rates of foreclosure and homelessness continue to rise.
Homelessness is a reality for many families, but at Virginia Supportive Housing, we can transform that reality into a dream of stability, safety, and hope. What does that really mean to the people we serve? There are faces behind the statistics—living, breathing individuals whose lives are changed by having a safe place to call home. It is in their stories that you learn why we do what we do. This is one of our Stories of Hope.
“When our time at the shelter was up, I was terrified. Now that I was clean and had custody of my kids, I was responsible for their lives as well as my own. I was filled with fear. I couldn’t do anything that would jeopardize my freedom or sobriety, but even though I had a job, I couldn’t afford anyplace decent. Where were we going to sleep?
When I found out about VSH’s Family Apartments I was so relieved, finally, a safe affordable place where I could raise my kids. The apartment is also a place where I can grow and be a better person. Best of all, I’m not alone. My case manager is always available, supporting me and connecting me to community resources if I need them. For the first time in 15 years, I’m living life right.” – Barbara*, Family Apartment Resident
*”Barbara” is a pseudonym for a an actual VSH family client.
VSH Volunteers Celebrate MLK Day With Service Project
January 19th, 2010
For thousands of citizens across the city, state, and country, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is not just a day off. It’s an opportunity to honor Dr. King’s legacy as one of our nation’s greatest social justice advocates by engaging in a day of community service.
On Monday, January 18, fourteen Richmonders of diverse ages and backgrounds chose to celebrate the day by participating in a service project coordinated by Virginia Supportive Housing.
There are lots of ways that volunteers support the mission of Virginia Supportive Housing. MLK Day volunteers spruced up one of VSH’s nine Richmond properties by painting a second-floor corridor. Volunteers also participate in many other projects such as landscaping, serving meals, teaching basic computer skills, collecting non-perishable food items, helping new residents move in, and providing administrative support at the VSH headquarters.
Dr. King believed in the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals. If you believe in the goal of ending the problem of homelessness in our community, then consider giving your time to VSH’s volunteer program. When you volunteer for Virginia Supportive Housing, you serve an organization that transforms lives, transforms communities, and provides permanent solutions to homelessness.
Did you know?
January 12th, 2010
1) The number of children experiencing homelessness has remained relatively stable over the last three years.
2) 31% of people experiencing homelessness report mental health problems.
3) Approximately 18% of people experiencing homelessness are veterans.
4) It costs more to provide emergency shelter (up to 90 days) and transitional housing (up to 2 years) than it does to provide permanent supportive housing.
5) Almost 20% of persons experiencing homelessness in Greater Richmond report Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover as their previous place of residence.
…stay tuned for additional “Did you know?” blogs every month
Data provided by Homeward
