In the News
Crescent Square receives ULI Vision Award
December 7, 2016Our newest community, Crescent Square, in Virginia Beach, received the Innovative Deal of the Year award from Urban Land Institute Virginia (ULI Virginia). ULI Virginia announced the award at its 2016 Vision Awards ceremony on December 1, 2016, in Glen Allen, VA. The program celebrates projects that advance the ULI Virginia’s mission to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.
We completed construction in April 2016. Today, Crescent Square is home to 80 formerly homeless and low-income individuals from the South Hampton Roads region. “It’s exciting to be recognized for a project that we are so proud of and one that helps so many people,” said Julie Anderson, VSH’s Senior Housing Development Officer.
Crescent Square is among a prestigious group of award recipients that include Virginia Capital Trail for Best Overall and Best Community Impact, Quirk Hotel for Best Renovation or Adaptive Reuse, and another Virginia Beach development, 25th Street, for Mixed Use Development for Best Public / Private Partnership.
Crescent Square is VSH’s fifth development in South Hampton Roads and the second one in Virginia Beach. It’s also our first mixed-income community in Hampton Roads. The building is EarthCraft Virginia certified for energy and resource efficiency and includes photovoltaic solar panels to reduce the building’s energy load and a solar thermal hot water system to provide hot water to the building. All appliances and windows are Energy Star rated, and all water fixtures are low flow.
“Crescent Square represents a tremendous collaboration with public and private partners who are vested in meeting the region’s demand for supportive and affordable housing,” said Allison Bogdanović, executive director of VSH. “Local officials recognize that supportive housing is a proven and cost-effective model that works, as evidenced by the fact that 97% of our clients do not return to homelessness.”
Read full article via VSHResults are in: Wards Corner 10K Race – December 3, 2016
December 6, 2016See the results to the Wards Corner 10K here. The inaugural race, which benefit Virginia Supportive Housing, was rescheduled from October 8 to December 3, 2016. The race is a celebration of the season in Norfolk with a great run/walk through the scenic Wards Corner, Talbot Hall and Riverpoint neighborhoods.
Read full article via VSHWards Corner 10K Race – Rescheduled to December 3, 2016
September 7, 2016Due to Hurricane Matthew, the inaugural Ward’s Corner 10K, benefitting Virginia Supportive Housing, has been rescheduled from October 8 to December 3, 2016. The race is a celebration of the season in Norfolk with a great run/walk through the scenic Wards Corner, Talbot Hall and Riverpoint neighborhoods. Please consider joining us as a runner, volunteer or sponsor. Sign up today! For more information contact 757-644-3036 or [email protected].
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Governor McAuliffe Announces decrease in overall homelessness
August 25, 2016
On July 20, 2016, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced that overall homelessness in Virginia declined 10.5 percent in 2016 versus 2015. VSH has played a significant role in this achievement. Our results—more than 97% of those we serve do not return to homelessness—demonstrate that together, we are making homelessness history.
Read full article via VSHVolunteers Make Homelessness History
April 13, 2016Volunteers Make Homelessness History
by Alison Jones-Nassar, Volunteer Resources Manager
This week as Virginia Supportive Housing celebrates National Volunteer Week, I reflect with gratitude on the impact volunteers make on our organization and in the lives of those we serve.
The collective contributions of volunteers are inspiring. In the last five years, 5,513 volunteers supported our mission to end homelessness with gifts of time, skills and compassion. Volunteers provided nearly 47,800 hours of service, which translates to an extraordinary $987,000 in value.
These numbers only capture part of the picture. VSH’s volunteer workforce supports all aspects of our mission and extends our ability to deliver critical services to vulnerable individuals. Volunteers help improve the quality of life for the residents, whether by enhancing and maintain the properties in which they live, or by providing direct services and activities to our residents.
Property Champions
VSH’s portfolio of apartments for formerly homeless individuals includes 535 units in 16 properties that we own and operate. Volunteers greatly expand the capacity of our maintenance team, thanks to thousands of hours that they dedicate to VSH.
As a result, VSH properties look more attractive, clean and inviting – like “home” should be. Volunteers construct fences, repair porches, spread mulch, paint apartments, repair appliances, plant flowers, clean gutters, move furniture, scrub sinks, cut grass, build raised garden boxes, rake leaves, assemble furniture and paint parking lot lines, among many other tasks. The work is not glamorous, but our volunteers unfailingly arrive with team spirit and can-do attitudes to make it seem like fun.
Direct Service Providers
Through VSH’s orientation and training, volunteers gain an understanding of the variety of physical and mental conditions that affect many of our residents as a result of having living unsheltered for years. Volunteers also learn about residents extremely limited incomes (less than $10,000/year) that can affect food security and social inclusion. Many of our residents are also disconnected from family, thus reducing their exposure to holiday celebrations and traditions.
Volunteers have answered the call to help improve the quality of life for our residents in a big way. Direct services that volunteers provide include hosting birthday parties, cutting hair, preparing dinners, decorating for holiday celebrations, teaching computer skills, conducting art classes, leading Bingo, teaching financial literacy, providing assistance with job-hunting, promoting wellness, performing song and dance routines, conducting Bible studies, organizing Wii fitness sessions, teaching bike safety and delivering food baskets.
Special event volunteers support myriad fundraising efforts while administrative support volunteers and interns support our administrative staff.
Without the contributions of volunteers across all departments and programs, we would not be able to accomplish the important work that we do each day to end homelessness. Volunteers are truly the KEY to success!
National Volunteer Week provides not only a great opportunity reflect, but to plan as well. This year VSH will become certified as a Service Enterprise, which means that our capacity to engage volunteers strategically, to onboard them effectively and to steward them as life-long supporters will be better than ever. We are committed to strengthening our current practices while striving for a new level of excellence in volunteer engagement.
On behalf of Virginia Supportive Housing’s staff, Board of Directors and residents, I extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to all volunteers. Your dedication and service are priceless. Here’s to volunteers and the bright futures they continue to build!
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