LETTERS: A call for community action on homelessness

Dear Editor:

In a 2020 study, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated that a $100 increase in median rent was associated with a 9 percent increase in the estimated homelessness rate.

With inflation on the rise and record-breaking high gas and housing prices as the new normal, every family is facing budget challenges these days. But for families experiencing homelessness in Central Virginia, the dream of permanent housing seems to inch farther and farther away with every headline about the worsening economy.

However, organizations like Housing Families First are working hard every day to help those families keep their dreams of housing stability alive, regardless of the current state of the world. While we unfortunately can’t fix the economy, we can offer a beacon of hope for families experiencing homelessness. In November 2018, we kicked off a campaign to raise $4.4 million to expand our facilities and services in order to help even more of the most vulnerable families in times just like these. Currently, we are just $34,000 short of reaching that audacious goal and I am asking for our community’s support to help us drive our mission home.

Once we reach our fundraising goal, Housing Families First will be able to offer housing services for 300 more children and adults each year, emergency shelter for up to 50 more individuals each year, and we’ll be able to expand our outreach programs and partnerships to help even more families in need.

We believe that every family deserves a home and this is your chance to join the fight to end homelessness. Please visit housingfamiliesfirst.org/newbeginnings to learn how you can make a real difference for your community.

Sincerely,
Beth Vann-Turnbull
Executive Director, Housing Families First
Henrico, VA