Housing Families First
Opening Doors for Families
Final Report
Every family deserves a safe place to call home.
In the Greater Richmond region, thousands of children and parents are homeless or living precariously in hotels. Housing Families First offers housing counseling, financial assistance, and an array of other services to help families move from homelessness to a home of their own.
We are glad you are a part of our village. Thank you for creating transformational opportunities for families in our community.
An illness. A cut in work hours. A marriage that breaks up. A car that breaks down. An unpaid utility bill. A rise in rent. Each family’s path into homelessness is different, but there are common challenges that families face. One of the biggest and most widespread challenges is the lack of deeply affordable housing, making it difficult for families to keep a roof over their heads.
More than 100 people living in families in Greater Richmond were experiencing homelessness on a given night in January 2019, just two months after the launch of Opening Doors for Families: A Capital Campaign for Housing Families First.
Then, family homelessness spiked after the onset of the pandemic. By July 2021, the number of families experiencing homelessness in the Richmond region was 196 percent higher than in July 2019 (Homeward 2022).
Fortunately, by mid-2022, the number of families experiencing homelessness had dropped by 67 percent over a six-month period, bringing the numbers closer to pre-pandemic levels.
Thanks to the generosity of our village and the successful completion of Opening Doors for Families, Housing Families First is poised to provide a path to permanent housing and reduce homelessness for even more Richmond-area families.
At the launch of the campaign:
People in Richmond families experiencing homelessless each day:
Richmond students experiencing homelessness during the school year:
Fully handicapped-accessible family shelter bedrooms with bathrooms available:
“It’s been an honor to watch the transformation of Housing Families First over the past couple of years. More families experiencing homelessness get into permanent housing because of the hardworking staff and volunteers at HFF. HFF has gained world-wide recognition due to their incredible efforts and this has helped them build better resources to support the Richmond area community. “
– Housing Families First Board Member and Capital Campaign Co-Chair, Becky McNeer
“One of the key principles of our philanthropic charter is that we value gifts of time, talent, and treasure — because it takes more than just dollars to run this operation, it takes a village. With this campaign, we wanted to welcome as many passionate community advocates as possible to the HFF family because we have a lot of work ahead of us. In the end, I can’t imagine being on a better path than we are today.”
– Housing Families First Board Member and Capital Campaign Co-Chair, Will Melton
“Our hearts are filled with gratitude! Housing Families First partnered with us and gave the necessary resources for a smooth transition from homelessness to restoration! Their team truly showed compassion and fully understood the unexpected hard times that any family could face. They gave realistic support and carefully committed to the work that it takes to get a family back on their feet.”
– The C Family
Accomplishments
With a successful track record of programmatic excellence and sound financial performance, in 2018, HFF launched Opening Doors for Families: A Capital Campaign for Housing Families First to raise $4,400,000 to expand programming, renovate our facilities, and make critically-needed capital improvements to our campus.
Opening Doors for Families is reducing family homelessness in Greater Richmond by significantly expanding the number of available housing options for families facing homelessness, while also transforming the physical space in which those housing services are delivered. As a result, the lives of literally hundreds of Richmond families annually will be changed as they are able to access a safe place to call home.
Key components of this campaign included the creation of a private entrance for shelter guests, an additional, fully-accessible bedroom and bathroom suite, 10 additional shelter beds, a larger gathering space for residents, private spaces for client meetings, and new playgrounds and play areas for children and youth. The campus received major upgrades including new flooring, furniture, energy-efficient systems to improve air quality and climate control, roofing, and commercial laundry facilities. Additional office spaces for staff and additional parking for clients and volunteers have allowed for a more trauma-informed and pleasant client experience.
In addition to Housing Families First’s two existing programs, Hilliard House Emergency Shelter and Building Neighbors Rapid Re-Housing, Opening Doors for Families enabled the launch of a third program, Bringing Families Home, designed to help students and their families living in hotels or overcrowded situations to move into permanent homes. The enhanced space and additional programming positions Housing Families First to better meet the needs of the families we serve.
At the conclusion of the campaign:
Additional people served annually:
Shelter beds added:
Square feet added:
Dollars Raised:
Thanks to our Donors
Individuals
Alan & Lorinda Griffin
Alex Criqui
Alexis & Dan Bullard
Alice Thompson
Allison Nida
Allison Shelton
Altise M. Street
Amanda Towles
Ameera Daudani
Amy Farabow
Amy Melchior
Andrew Farabow
Andrew Foster
Andy & Anji Lacatell
Angela Barnes-Hargress
Angela Jewell
Anne Delaney
Anne M. Pollard
Annie Hedrick
Anonymous
Anthony Romanello
Artan Cami
Ava Adenauer
Barbara G. Earley
Barbara Null
Becky & Andy McNeer
Ben & Loretta English
Bernadine Doggett
Beth Vann-Turnbull & Scott Turnbull
Beverly J. R. Tyler
Bill Walsh
Bob Newman
Brian Koziol
Brian Little
Camden Taylor
Carol M. Bassett
Carol Throckmorton
Caroline Nowery
Carrie Ann McCoy
Catherine L. Barkley
Chandra Williams
Charles L. Grant
Chirag Patel
Christy Yates
Cindy Jennings
Cinnamon Baker
Colin Arnold
Constance Alston
Constance Pechura & James Ingram
Craig Shealy
Dana Mayo
Daniel Halloran
Daniel Hicks
David Birkelien
Deborah A. Conway
Dena Brown
Denise Thomas-Brown
Desiree LaBranche
Dewvaul Tracy, III
Dianne Vann
Dolphine Montague
Donald & Ruth Stewart
Donna Earley Guza
Donna Jamison
Dotty & Gregg Stratton
Dylan Wheeler
Elizabeth & Brandon Ream
Elizabeth & Travis Nice
Elizabeth Freeman
Ellen Johnson
Emily Jasper
Emmy Woody
Erika Schmale
Erin & Carl Adams
Erin Kelleher & Pam Embrey
Erin Walsh
Faith Kallman
Fletcher & Carolyn Daniels
Frazier & Lois Brooks
Gabriella Cruz
Gail Doggett
Glenn E. Thompson
Greg Dixon
Hanna Stalker
Harvey E. Chambers
Heather & Jason Dillon
Helen & Wilhelm Zuelzer
Inga Sund
James Mills
James Petrie
James Porter
James Williams & Albert Boswell
Janet McCatty
Jasmine Martin
Jason B. Roop
Jennifer Banks
Jennifer Clarke
Jennifer White
Jenny & Matt Waring
Jenny Kacani
Jeremy Colb
Jim & Melinda Burnette
Jimmy Comer
Joan & Steven Garton
Joan Thornhill
Joey Hammond
Johanna Beers
John & Susan Burton
John Arkesteyn & Victoria Sweeney Arkesteyn
John B. Beirne, Jr.
Jonathan Knopf & Mary Beth Yates
Jose Giron
Joseph Chambers
Joseph Kutchera
Joseph Snider
Josephine & Martin Shorter
Josette Gioeli-Fiegl
Jovan & Emily Burton
Joy Haynesworth
Joy Joyner
Joyce Eaby
Julie Beirne Miller & Faron Miller
Julie Neville
Karen Durkin
Karen O’Brien
Katherine Campbell
Kathy Burke
Kayla Giambra
Kelley Walls
Kelly D. Evans
Kelly McLeod
Kelly Planck
Kelsey McMahon
Kenneth & Melissa Janes
Kent & Sarah Brockwell
Kerrie Arkwell
Kevin Michael Woodson
Kiyoko Timmons
Kristen Johnson
Kristena Shaw
Kristin Swynford
Laura Thomson
Lauren K. Leggett
Lawrence Mix
Leslie Beard
Leslie Shimer
Liane Bain
Linda Tiller
Lindsay Stoda
Lisa Trani
Lisa Vozar
Lisa Winn Bryan
Loraine Farabow
Lynda Sharp Anderson
Madeline Petrie
Madelyn Peay
Mahalakshmi Bargavi Govindasamy Thulasi
Mahesh Vasudevan
Maria Blaha
Mark Lacy
Marlene Scott
Mary Dillingham
Mary Pardue
Mary Waller
Matthew Converse
Melissa Dart
Melissa Tannery
Melissa Williams
Michael M. Stack
Mieko & Ronald Timmons, Sr.
Mieya Timmons
Molly Caldera
Monica Dandridge
Monica Lucas
Mr. & Mrs. Tim & Lauren Timmons
Myrtle Brown
Nancy Warman
Natalie Strother
Nikita Ford
Olivia Deputy
Pamela Putney
Patricia P. Spence
Patricia Peregoy & Marian Pfahning
Patricia Perry
Paul Agrillo
Paula Gentius
Paula Young Perez
Quentin & Tracey van Marcke de Lummen
Rachael Daniels
Randall G. Welch
Ravneet Kaur
Regina DiLauro Fay
Reza & Christy Omarzai
Robert & Anna Lou Schaberg
Robert & Eden Glenn
Rock Arauzo
Rodney Hopkins
Ronni Grimes
Roy Root
Samantha Goodman
Sara Blose
Sarah Ashbridge Foote
Sarah Bedard Holland
Sarah Powell
Scott M. Sullivan
Sharmane Grady
Sharon Perez
Shaunia Wallace Carlyle
Sherri Bowman
Sherry Fox
Sonja E. Volker
Sophia Lawson
Susan Herzick
Swetha Kumar
Sydney Robison
Tammy L. Jones
Tammy Stephens
Tawana Demery
Taylor Brannan
The Iguina Family
The McCann Family Fund
The Moussavou Family
The Riddick Family
Thomas Tinsley
Tia Stamper
Timothy Borchert
Timothy Jordan
Tom Robinson
Tonya Vaughan
Trina Willard
Troy Long
Valerie & Aaron Myers
Valerie Lee & Daniel Nokes
Vicki Hauser
Victor D. Ramos
Wanda Heath
Watina Duren
Will Melton & Courtney Turrin
William Deutsch
Zachary Miller
businesses
Archangel Protective Services, LLC
Atlantic Union Bank
Atlantic Valve
Charlie Bickel Real Estate
Commercial Surfaces Flooring, LLC
DentaQuest
Dominion Due Diligence Group
DPR Construction
Hobbs & Associates
Industrial Control Systems
Regina DF Designs
Richmond Association of Realtors
S&P Global Foundation
SDV Solutions, Inc
Shaheen, Ruth, Martin & Fonville Real Estate
State Farm
Target Giving Circle
Taxing Authority Consulting
Services, PC
TowneBank Richmond Foundation
Troutman Pepper
Virginia Community
Development Fund
Virginia Housing
XPonent21
Foundations
Day One Families Fund
Community Foundation for a greater Richmond
Marietta McNeill Morgan & Samuel Tate Morgan, Jr. Trust
Reinhart Foundation
Richard S. Reynolds Foundation
Robins Foundation
The Bob & Anna Lou Schaberg Foundation
The Henricus Foundation
The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
The Cabell Foundation
The Sheldon H. Short, Jr. Trust
The William H. – John G. –
Emma Scott Foundation
Congregations
First Baptist Church of Richmond
Ginter Park Presbyterian Church
St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Church
Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church
Civic
Alpha Kappa Alpha,
ORO Chapter
Henrico East Rotary Club
Impact 100 Richmond
Jack and Jill of America Inc,
Richmond Virginia Chapter
The Rotary Club
of Richmond
Housing Families First has made every effort to accurately list our valued donors. Please contact us if we have made any mistakes.
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