Annual Report 2016-17

During its seventh season of operation, 1,024 volunteers from 50 faith-based organizations, businesses and community groups provided 1,451 bed-nights of winter shelter and 4,353 meals for 40 homeless men. While sheltered at To Our House, 10 guests obtained a source of income, and 21 guests moved into permanent housing.

Homelessness looks very different in the New River Valley than in urban areas. The homeless in rural areas might live in their cars, in the woods or caves. Individuals in our area who find themselves without housing include ex-offenders, the disabled, those working at low-paying jobs, and those experiencing long-term unemployment. Long waiting lists for lim- ited subsidized housing exacerbate the problem. NRCA’s To Our House (TOH) program works in partnership with the local faith community to shelter homeless single men during the winter months. Churches offer their fellowship halls for one or two weeks as night shelters. Host and support church volunteers transport the homeless men (guests), cook and serve meals, offer fellowship, and sleep at the shelter as church liaisons. To Our House AmeriCorps members and stipend volunteers are on site to support the guests and volun- teers. New River Community Action offers a variety of support services to the guests, including NRCA Virginia CARES for ex-offenders. NRCA also links the To Our House guests with the NRCA Homeless and Housing Programs to obtain stable housing.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT: After losing his job, apartment and pos- sessions following a drug possession charge, Jody Blankenship sought help from To Our House . As a guest, Blankenship was transported each night during the winter to a warm church set up with blanketed cots and provid- ed a hot meal by caring volunteers. Staff and volunteers offered informa- tion on available housing and employment resources. “I am completely clean now. TOH connected me with Virginia CARES to get an ID, a job, and information to get a place of my own,” said Blanken- ship while volunteering at Blacksburg Baptist Church to serve dinner to To Our House guests. To Our House guests are asked to perform two hours of community service for every 30 nights of shelter. “I did my two hours and never stopped,” said Blankenship, who volunteered full-time last winter until he secured employ- ment. He continues to volunteer at To Our House serving meals, at the

&ŽƌŵĞƌůLJ ŚŽŵĞůĞƐƐ͕ :ŽĚLJ ůĂŶŬĞŶƐŚŝƉ ;ůĞŌͿ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ for To Our House to prepare a sandwich for guest Joseph Kingrea.

Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP) food pantry organizing donations, and at the NRCA Mont- gomery Area Office assisting with landscaping and computers. “This is my way of giving back,” said Blankenship. “This is not something I would have done in the past, but being here and being sober has changed my view. Seeing all the people who need help and being able to help them has made a big difference in my life. After I started volunteering, everything started to fall into place.” Blankenship credits the TOH supportive community with helping him move forward. “ To Our House and NRCA have been like family to me. I would not do anything to let them down. These are great people. They have been there for me, they have really helped me.”

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