BEACH Community Partnership Blog

More than 20 faith organizations in Virginia Beach participated in the 2017-2018 Winter Shelter Program, helping to serve 364 homeless adults during the coldest months. For five months faith organizations rotated weekly to provide overnight shelter, meals, medical care, and other resources to those in need. Thank you to the following faith organizations who participated to provide a safe, warm place to sleep for homeless adults during the winter: Baylake United Methodist Church Bayside Church of Christ Bayside Presbyterian Church Beth Chaverim Synagogue Christian Church Uniting  Church of the Ascension  Church of the Holy Family Community United Methodist Church Courthouse Community United Methodist Church Eastern Shore Chapel Haygood Methodist Church Holy Spirit Catholic Church Kempsville Church of Christ King’s Grant Baptist Church King’s Grant Presbyterian Church London Bridge Baptist Church Lynnhaven United Method

In an effort to end veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded $39,161 in new funding to the City of Virginia Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation to provide a permanent home for five additional veterans experiencing homelessness in Virginia Beach. HUD Region III Regional Administrator Joseph DeFelice joined Hampton VA Medical Center Chief of Staff Dr. Priscilla Hankins in presenting Andrew Friedman, director of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation, with the ceremonial check at a recent ceremony at Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Virginia Beach Housing and Neighborhood Preservation is one of 13 public housing agencies that was awarded new funding totaling $693,962 for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The supportive housing assistance is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program , which combines rental assistance from

The Housing Resource Center, scheduled to open this year at the corner of Witchduck Road and Southern Boulevard, will combine shelter and housing for families and singles, supportive services and community resources in one facility to help people leave homelessness behind.  The Housing Resource Center is a one-stop-shop of essential services, shelter and housing for homeless families and individuals. At the center, our community system of City agencies, nonprofit service providers and faith organizations will be able to continue and grow our efforts to make homelessness rare, brief and nonrecurring. The Housing Resource Center will provide new opportunities and resources for homeless families and individuals to put down roots. On day one, 118 individuals and families can be off the street and sheltered or permanently housed at the center when it opens later this year. During the Virginia Beach City Council's briefing on March 20, Virginia Beach Housing & Neighborhood

Initially, a limited number of volunteer opportunities are available to help supplement staff at the Housing Resource Center  in the daily delivery of services to individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis. Volunteer positions include Housing Resource Center ambassadors, front desk receptionists, and program support. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, or 16 years of age for a program support position, and pass a federal background check. Volunteers should be able to dedicate at least two days per week at the Housing Resource Center. Mandatory training sessions will be provided. Positions will be posted until May 15 at www.vbgov.com/volunteer . Volunteers will be scheduled for training in June to help staff move in and set up at the Housing Resource Center beginning in mid-July. Positions will re-post in October, and quarterly thereafter. For more information, contact Diane Hotaling at (757) 385-1278 or dhotalin@vbgov.com .

The faith community has been the cornerstone of the effort to end homelessness in Virginia Beach for several decades. At the Interfaith Alliance at the Beach’s (IAB) first interfaith forum, faith organizations had the opportunity to network and hear strategies for strengthening their role and effectiveness in the community-wide effort. On March 15 more than 100 attendees, 22 houses of faith, and 14 nonprofit organizations who shared the common goal of wanting to end homelessness gathered at New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ for the IAB's Interfaith Forum , “Moving from Charity to Change: Effective Strategies for Ending the Cycle of Homelessness.” Tracy Flaherty-Willmott, associate director of OrgCode, Inc. , shared how faith organizations can help homeless families and individuals today, and also how they can actively assist them through their journey to being housed, increasing stability, and reintegrating into society. One of the ways faith communities can support and e

The Virginia Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation is hosting two FREE training sessions on homelessness: Creating a System of Care that Aligns with Housing First Wednesday, Sept. 13 9:00 a.m. - noon Register by Sept. 12 at https://housing-first-training.eventbrite.com Excellence in Housing Stabilization Thursday, Sept. 14 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. Register by Sept. 12 at https://housing-stabilization-training.eventbrite.com Who should attend?  Housing based case managers, support workers, team leaders, agency/program managers, directors, and/or housing program supervisors; local government officials; and faith community members. The training will be led by Tracy Flaherty-Willmott, associate director of OrgCode Consulting, Inc. OrgCode, based in Ontario, Canada, has created plans to end homelessness and affordable housing strategies for many communities across North America. The organization excels in strategy, planning, training, research, commu