Annual Report 2018-19

TO OUR HOUSE During its ninth season of operation, 1,046 volunteers from 50 faith-based organizations, businesses, and community groups provided 1,590 bed-nights of winter shelter and 4,770 meals for 60 homeless single men and women. 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 under a bridge. 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 limited subsidized housing exacerbate the problem. New River Community Action’s (NRCA) To Our House (TOH) program works in partnership with the local faith community to shelter homeless single men and women (guests) during the winter months. Churches offer their fellowship halls for one or two weeks as night shelters. Host and support church volunteers transport the guests, cook and serve meals, offer fellowship, and sleep at the shelter as church liaisons. To Our House stipend volunteers or staff are on site to support the guests and volunteers. NRCA 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 assist with stable housing.

“ 27 moved into

permanent housing and 20 obtained employment while at TOH ”

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT For eight seasons, To Our House provided shelter and support to single, homeless men during the winter months. Recognizing the need, TOH opened its doors to single, homeless women when the ninth season began on November 2, 2018. On the third night of the season, the first woman participated in the program. While nervous about coming into the shelter, she stated that the hospitality of volunteers, staff, and other guests helped her to feel comfortable almost immediately. When informed that she was the first female guest and was asked to let staff know of any needs not anticipated for women, everyone was amused that an obvious item, a hairbrush, had been overlooked. TOH sheltered twelve women during season nine. As with all guests, TOH provided for their basic needs of food and shelter, then staff partnered with guests to focus on income and permanent housing through connections to appropriate NRCA programs and outside agencies. Relationships that developed with other guests and with volunteers provided additional support and encouragement. Of the eight women guests without a source of income, three gained employment and one completed her social security retirement application. Seven of the twelve women found permanent housing.

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