annual report 2015 building solutions together Board of Directors T. Preston Lloyd, Jr. Richmond Council of Hampton Roads Williams Mullen Advocates Mission Advancement James F. Banta, President Community Volunteer Tavis B. Maxwell Council Capital One Financial Corp. Betsy Bighinatti Community Volunteer Pamela Goggins, Sharon K. Nusbaum, Chair John P. McCann Community Volunteer Vice President Karl Bren Microsoft McCann Realty Partners Green Visions Consulting Michael Beane Christopher Moore State Corporation Commission, Susan H. Siegfried, Imad Damaj Writer Commonwealth of Virginia Imm. Past Chair Virginia Muslim Coalition Attorney Sharon K. Nusbaum for Public Affairs Diana Capilli Houston Gray, Secretary Community Volunteer S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. W. Barry Hofheimer The Houston Group, LLC Charmaine Rochester CB Richard Ellis April Espree Kevin J. Chase, Treasurer Bon Secours Health Systems, Inc. Norfolk Redevelopment Laura Lafayette First Community Bank & Housing Authority K. Logan Schmidt Richmond Association Fredrick A. Carleton, Jr. Monarch Bank of REALTORS C. E. “Cliff” Hayes, Jr. US Trust, Bank of America Urban League of Hampton Roads Loretta Tabb Penny Johnson McPherson Keith L. Conley Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC Wells Fargo Delegate Daun S. Hester Veteran, U.S. Navy Calvary Christian Gilbert M. Rosenthal Christina Waller Elementary School John S. Finn, Jr. Power Distribution, Inc. The Rosenthal Foundation United Real Estate Richmond Mike Jakubowski T.K. Somanath Allison Bogdanovíc TowneBank Norfolk Delegate Stephen E. Heretick Executive Director, Richmond Redevelopment Stephen E. Heretick, PC Virginia Supportive Housing and Housing Authority Anne Kincaid-Luna Chico’s Norfolk Anne T. Hines Wallace Stettinius Thomas-Hines Interiors Honorary Board Retired Chairman, Cadmus Sharon Payne Communications Virginia Wesleyan College John D. (Jack) Horn Members Martin Horn, Inc. Nancy B. Stutts Neil Walsh Barbara Abernathy Wilder School of Govt. & Sacred Heart Catholic Church Community Volunteer Public Affairs, VCU Sean Wetmore Arthur C. Hendrick, Jr. Robert Sledd Norfolk Academy Community Volunteer Pinnacle Ventures, LLC Carrie White James Ukrop Community Volunteer New Richmond Ventures Dear friends, Here’s a prediction: 2015 will be known as the beginning of Virginia Supportive Housing’s transformation. We’ve reached this critical point thanks to everyone who, over the last 27 years, has supported Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) and the people we serve. Everything we started, accomplished, and built upon this year is grounded in the decades of work we’ve done together to rebuild lives and end homelessness. new solutions, new partnerships • In 2015, we gained zoning approval, along with funding support, to renovate and expand—for the first time—New Clay House, the property that launched VSH in 1988. Since then, we have built 16 other properties. Finally, we can bring our knowledge full circle and build on it. • In the fall, along with our partners the Richmond Department of Justice Services and the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, we kicked off the innovative FUSE program, which provides supportive housing for people who have experienced homelessness and come into frequent contact with the criminal justice system. This game-changer enables us to reach a population that we haven’t been able to reach before. • At a Veterans Day ceremony on November 11, Governor Terry McAuliffe declared that Virginia is the first state in the nation to functionally end veteran homelessness. VSH has been integral to this effort, which means you have been integral. • And in December, we reached substantial construction completion on Crescent Square, VSH’s fifth supportive housing community in Hampton Roads and our second mixed-income community that serves both formerly homeless and low-income individuals. The work ahead is significant, but each item on this list and our results—more than 97% of those we serve do not return to homelessness—demonstrate that together, we are making homelessness history. Sincerely, Allison Bogdanovíc, Executive Director 3 central virginia building stability… 181 in 10 buildings and 937 in scattered 1,118 site locations. Residence Built Units New Clay House 1992 47 charlottesville Studios at South Richmond 1996 / 2011 39 / 21 Bliley Manor 1998 8 Stratford House (Cherokee Hill) 1998 8 3rd Avenue Apartments 2000 4 in 1 building. 60 Cary Street Apartments 2000 4 Residence Built Units Chestnut Hill Apartments 2000 4 The Crossings at Fourth and Preston 2012 60 Independence House 2005 6 James River Apartments 2008 14 Veterans Apartments 2008 8 we serve clients across the state hampton roads Residence Built Units Gosnold Apartments 2006 60 368 Cloverleaf Apartments 2008 60 264 in 4 buildings and 104 South Bay Apartments 2010 60 in scattered site locations. Heron’s Landing 2013 60 4 …for the most vulnerable most are male most are black most are older 47% % % 63 male 30 28% % 16% % white 37 female 65 black 5% 5% other 18-30 31-50 51-61 62+ 2% under 18; 2% unknown/didn’t say. most are chronically most have a disability some are veterans homeless upon intake 17% 52% have a chronic physical disability 59% 59% have a mental health condition 5 client storyclient t age 56, Marcia is achieving something many of us would like to claim. She’s A rebuilding her life based on her positive attributes—faith, willpower, family, creativity, and more. All the while, she’s deflecting demons that have stalked her for years—an adolescence she doesn’t talk about, domestic violence, and alcoholism. Marcia took her courageous first step in 2010. She left pity party.” When she would let herself sink too low, an abusive relationship, and began acting in a way Julissa would pull her back. “I was like a soda bottle. that said, “No one owns me.” For Marcia, that meant Julissa knew how to shake me up in a good way.” living without family or friends, free of commitments, Today, Marcia’s home reflects her positive path. She but not free of deep-seated anger and the need to fills her walls with artwork and crafts she creates in her “self-medicate” with alcohol. Eventually, she had therapy sessions. She sees a counselor each week, and neither a support network nor a home. “It was depressing. At one time, I lived in a shed with no running water.” A local agency helped her get a job in fast food service. The restaurant became her place to wash up and obtain meals. The agency also introduced her to Virginia Supportive building a life Housing (VSH). attends Alcoholics Anonymous, a Women’s Intensive In January 2014, Marcia moved into VSH’s South Bay Outpatient Treatment Group, a Spirituality Group, Apartments in Portsmouth. She worked more hours Alcohol and Substance Support Group, and a Woman’s and drank less. Most important, she connected with Codependent Group. Most of all, she has Julissa’s someone who cared about her enough to let her know ongoing support and counseling. “Julissa is like family. if she was backsliding. That person was Julissa, her She showed me that someone cares.” And after years VSH social worker. of estrangement, Marcia has reunited with her mother and brother. Things started changing, but not overnight. “Sometimes, I would just ride the bus and drink. I’d ride Marcia points to her windowsill, filled with plants, by my old apartment and think about how nice I had it and sums up her accomplishments with matter-of-fact fixed up. I was still looking in the rearview mirror. A real eloquence. “I grow a new leaf every day.” 6 building a life Julissa Rosario (l), VSH Supervisee in Social Work, and Marcia Velizara Aleksandrova (l), landlord, and Erica Holmes, VSH Housing Specialist, inspecting potential home for a FUSE client. building a foundation client storyclient he FUSE program, launched in 2015, proves the power of assuming that anyone, T regardless of circumstances, can grow and thrive given the right combination of support. For Mathew* the combination includes support from the criminal justice system, treatment for addiction, group therapy sessions, and landlords such as Velizara Aleksandrova, who welcome the opportunity to help people like Mathew get back on track. New York-based Corporation for Supportive Housing addiction to cocaine. Denise, his caseworker, stayed (CSH) developed the FUSE initiative to help individuals in touch with him during treatment and worked to find who continually circle through shelters, hospitals, housing for him. She told him she was proud to see him and the criminal justice system break that cycle. CSH work toward sobriety. The shy man’s face broke into determined the unique combination of housing and a beautiful smile. “No one has ever told me they were supportive services could help these “super users” of proud of me.” public systems (FUSE stands for frequent user service Denise knew the journey ahead would be hard, but enhancement) build stable, productive lives. Using she told Mathew that VSH and others who care, which a designated grant, Virginia Supportive Housing includes Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, (VSH) launched the program in collaboration with CARITAS, the Daily Planet, HomeAgain, and Homeless Richmond’s Criminal Justices Services Division. Point Entry, would be by his side. Today, Mathew is The FUSE initiative demonstrates that Mathew’s leading the way. He attends group therapy as well history—addiction, a criminal record, IQ of 51, outpatient drug treatment sessions. His criminal and childhood memories of domestic violence, charges have been dropped. Because of his hard work abandonment, and seeing his father shot—does not and his network of support, Mathew remains stably define his potential. When we first met Mathew, he housed for the first time in his life. was starting a 90-day inpatient program to address his building a foundation*Name has been changed. 9 In 2015,1,546 people lived at home instead of on the street, thanks to your support. almost all almost all choose to on average, they choose remain housed stay at least a year to stay several years (VSH adult singles) 97% % 98 3.9years average length of stay 10 In 2015,1,546 people lived at home instead of on the street, thanks to your support.