In the News

Hops for Housing at Hardywood Recap

With the sun shining and Spring temperatures finally beginning to rise, May 9th made the perfect day for a happy hour at Hardywood Brewery.  The Virginia Supportive Housing Junior Board hosted their first ever awareness event titled Hops for Housing Happy Hour in order to simply raise awareness about the mission of VSH in Virginia.  We had over 75 people attend the event, including Councilwoman Kim Gray, and the Deputy Director or Health and Human Resources, Marvin Figueroa.  Through the event we were able to connect with people interested in the mission, explain further what VSH does for the Richmond, Charlottesville and Hampton Roads communities, and talk about the up and coming New Clay House renovation.  We were able to provide volunteer, donation and advocacy options for people interested in getting further involved.

“The permanent housing model of VSH’s mission is something the Junior Board is extremely passionate about, especially with the organization turning thirty this year.  One of our 2018 goals was to identify an opportunity or platform where we could spread awareness about their mission.  The happy hour allowed us to do, in addition to have the support from VSH staff.”

Overall the happy hour was a huge success.  The energy and excitement in the room made it obvious that people want to help take further steps to ending homelessness in Virginia.

VSH featured in North of the James

Virginia Supportive Housing was featured recently in the local paper, North of the James. Here’s a link to the full story so you can read for yourself!

How you’re helping

This video shows what it’s like to go from being homeless for years to having a home of your own. Thanks to Virginia Beach Government for sharing Skully’s story. Today, Skully lives in Gosnold Apartments in Norfolk—all due to the wonderful donors who make stories like this possible. 

Anonymous gift helps reinvent Virginia’s first supportive housing community

Richmond, Va.—May 11, 2017—Allison Bogdanovic, Executive Director of Virginia Supportive Housing, announced today that the organization had received an unsolicited gift of $1 million from an anonymous donor. In the agency’s 29-year history, this is the largest single gift ever received at one time from an individual. Bogdanovic said the agency will use the gift to help renovate and expand its first supportive housing community, the historic New Clay House, located in Richmond’s Carver neighborhood.

The donor made a statement regarding the agency selection. “In our philanthropy, we have focused on smaller ‘under the radar’ organizations serving, hands-on, the neediest elements of our society—organizations where our contribution can make a very meaningful difference. Virginia Supportive Housing is definitely our kind of organization. It does absolutely amazing work with a population that clearly meets our criteria.  We are just glad we can assist them in having such a positive impact on the lives of so many people.”

“Humbled, grateful—and energized,” is how Bogdanovic described the mood around the agency after learning of the gift. “Our mission is to help end homelessness, and there’s so much work to be done. This gift puts us in a stronger position to help with that work.” Bogdanovic explained why this gift was especially meaningful. “We’ll use it to help reinvent our flagship property.”

When New Clay House opened in 1992, it was the first supportive housing community in Virginia. “We’ve opened 16 other properties since then. The expansion enables us to bring our knowledge full circle and build on it, while also almost doubling the number of residents,” explained Bogdanovic. “New Clay House does not meet the agency’s standards to foster independence and build community among residents.” The renovated community will include 67 units for formerly homeless individuals and 13 units for individuals earning 50% or less of Area Median Income.

Virginia Supportive Housing will apply $800,000 of the gift to support the expansion work and $200,000 to help provide direct services to the 248 clients the agency currently serves in Richmond.

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About Virginia Supportive Housing

VSH is Virginia’s first and leading supportive housing agency, serving more than 1,500 individuals annually in Richmond, Hampton Roads, and Charlottesville. Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Richmond, the agency developed and manages 543 units of supportive housing in 16 multi-family properties. VSH also partners with other landlords and provides mobile case management to residents living in those apartments. The non-profit organization administers the largest Supportive Services for Veteran Families program in Virginia, playing a key role in preventing and ending veteran homelessness.

With its strong record of success, 97% of clients not returning to homelessness, VSH has helped communities save millions of dollars in medical services, shelters and feeding programs, judicial services, and other public resources. www.virginiasupportivehousing.org