Celebrating 25 Years of HomeAid NCR’s Impact

Earlier this spring, I continued my affiliate visits with time spent alongside the HomeAid National Capital Region (NCR) team. These visits are an opportunity to build relationships, see projects firsthand, meet affiliate staff and board members, and support local events.

They also help me better understand what each affiliate does well so I can connect affiliates across the network and identify new ways HomeAid America can support their work. The NCR team planned a full and meaningful week that included project site visits, a dedication event, and a 25th anniversary celebration honoring the partnerships and people who have supported their mission.

Good Shepherd Housing Dedication

Our week began with the dedication of a three-story townhome transformed into affordable housing for Good Shepherd Housing, serving individuals and families earning 30% of the area median income (AMI) or below. Led by Miller & Smith, the renovation brought together dozens of trade partners who donated or discounted labor and materials. Nearly 80% of the project’s total cost was donated, allowing Good Shepherd Housing to direct more of its resources toward programs and services.

Historic Reeves Farmhouse

Kristyn Burr, CEO of HomeAid NCR, took me to visit the Reeves Farmhouse, a historic Arlington landmark being transformed to serve individuals with intellectual disabilities. HomeAid NCR is partnering with Arlington County and Habitat for Humanity of Washington, DC & Northern Virginia to coordinate the 4.5 million dollar preservation and construction effort. Habitat led the interior and exterior remediation, and Toll Brothers will complete the renovation and expansion. Once finished, the property will house four adults with disabilities and two full-time staff members from L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C., a nonprofit that provides housing and support services for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Turnover Program

Already this year, HomeAid NCR completed 10 Turnover Projects, a program unique to the affiliate. The program replaces worn carpet with durable LVP flooring and refreshes each affordable housing unit with new paint to create clean, move-in ready homes for individuals and families served by nonprofit partners. Kristyn showed me several units in different stages of completion. Because these projects are fully funded by HomeAid NCR, partners benefit from durable, low-maintenance upgrades that reduce long-term operating costs while creating welcoming, dignified spaces for the families they serve.  The combined retail value of the 10 Turnovers exceeds $77,000, allowing nonprofits to redirect critical funds toward programs and services rather than facility improvements such as flooring and paint.

Additional Site Visits

We also visited two additional project sites that reflected the breadth of HomeAid NCR’s work across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region.

Fairfax Presbyterian Church: In another partnership with Habitat for Humanity DC-NOVA, HomeAid NCR provided site work and materials for a project that will create eight townhomes through Habitat’s homeownership program, along with two homes that will be sold to HomeStretch, a HomeAid NCR partner serving families experiencing homelessness.

Pathway Homes: We also toured a creative renovation that is transforming unused garage space into functional organization and storage spaces including a space to house supplies to support a new Mobile Outreach Unit (MOU). The MOU provides services, including showers, directly to people experiencing homelessness in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. The three-unit shower trailer, which includes one ADA-accessible unit, is a one-of-a-kind retrofitted mobile facility that delivers fresh showers to individuals living on the streets, meeting them where they are. The trailer also features two exterior sinks, hygiene kits, and a water bottle filling station.

Celebrating 25 Years

Another highlight of the week was attending HomeAid National Capital Region’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. This intimate gathering of major donors and long-term supporters honored all that they have accomplished together over the past quarter century. I was grateful to hear from founding board members Steve Alloy and Don Knutson about why they first became involved with HomeAid, as well as from long-time nonprofit partners who shared the lasting impact HomeAid NCR has had on their organizations.

Congratulations to the entire HomeAid NCR team on 25 years of meaningful impact in the community. Thank you to Kristyn Burr, Courtney Bishop, Michelle Fargher, Vanessa Scherstrom, and Angie Persello for taking the time to share the incredible work you are doing.

Brenda Ketah
Chief Affiliate Officer