News and Events

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. 

Be part of a team of young professionals working to end homelessness—join our Junior Board!

Would you like to share your skills, insights, and enthusiasm with other like-minded young professionals and help end homelessness in Virginia? Then consider volunteering as a member of Virginia Supportive Housing’s Junior Board of Directors. We’re currently recruiting new members to join our Junior Board and expand our impact.

Who should consider joining our Junior Board? Young professionals under 40 who are ready to help engage the community in our mission to end homelessness in Virginia.

 What does the Junior Board do? Junior Board members help end homelessness by thanking our supporters, discovering new opportunities to grow our network of support, and serving as ambassadors and advocates for VSH in the community.

Virginia Supportive Housing helps once-chronically homeless individuals reclaim their lives through permanent housing and supportive services. Junior Board members advance that mission by being aware of what we do and teaching their community how we do it. Members help us build our network of supporters through activities and events, such as an annual fundraiser that YOU can help develop.

Members are expected to attend 9 out of 12 monthly meetings annually (generally on Tuesday evenings), with volunteer and advocacy opportunities spread throughout the year.

 I’m interested. What’s next? If you’re a young professional in Central Virginia who wants to help us end homelessness in the Commonwealth, please contact Matt Morrison at [email protected]. Once we have a sufficient number of qualified, interested individuals, an informational session will follow. Matt will keep you posted well in advance of the session. YOU can help us make homelessness history!

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