Read about our latest news and events:

□Tremendous Response to Call for Toys Gifts, Coats, and Volunteers
□ Glasgow Middle School Students Learn About Homelessness
□ Your Sponsorship Helps Children Help the Homeless
□ Officials Break Ground on $13.7 Million Renovation of Colonial Village Apartments
□ School Supplies Distributed at Plummer Elementary Back to School Night
□ Paul P. Browne Hired as Wesley Housing Director of Real Estate Development
□ Hundreds Join Together for the Acacia Federal Rock & Stroll
□ Fairfax County Kids Learn about Homelessness
□ No GoldenTickets: The Truth About Affordable Housing
□ Wesley Agape House Dedicates Backyard Oasis
□ Wesley Housing Participates in Housing Opportunities Expo 2011
□ Wesley Housing Featured in Arlington County Success Stories Newsletter
□ Response to Washington Post Series
□ Wesley Housing Featured in American Builders Quarterly Magazine
□ A Community Celebrates Strawbridge Square Renovation
□ First-Ever Spring Kick! a Winner
□ Real Estate Activities

Tremendous Response to Call for Toys, Gifts, Coats, and Volunteers

We are excited to share with you that Wesley Housing—thanks to volunteers and supporters like you—exceeded a number of our goals, giving many of our resident families a truly joyful holiday season.

188 residents in 62 households were served through our Adopt-a-Family program, an increase of 84% over last year. Families were “adopted” by thirty groups including United Way Worldwide, The SI Organization, two teams from Lockheed Martin, Accenture, NFL Players Association, InfoComm, Old Navy, and Cable&Wireless. Space for gift sorting and wrapping was donated by St. John’s UMC in Springfield. Volunteers who helped sort, organize, wrap, and deliver included church groups, company teams, individuals, and families. One volunteer wrote, "Thank you for giving us the oportunity to be part of this beautiful program. My husband and I enjoyed helping you very much."

We distributed more than 200 winter coats plus scarves, hats and gloves through the generosity of the Salvation Army, Coats for Kids, and all the churches, schools and businesses that partnered with us on the 2011 Coat Drive. These items were delivered to the students at Plummer and Simon Elementary Schools, two DC schools that partner with us on the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Mini-Walk program

Glasgow Middle School Students Learn About Homelessness

"We don't need to pay for power. We'll get some hamsters and let them run on a wheel to generate electricity." - Thomas

This was the creative suggestion of a 7th grader at Glasgow Middle School in Alexandria as he and his friends worked to create a family budget with only one minimum-wage income. Students were surprised to see how little money was available for rent and how such families are at risk for homelessness. Thomas and more than 1,000 students were participating in Wesley Housing's homelessness education exercise as part of the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless program. Students also joined together to walk in support of Wesley Housing and its mission. Thanks to Capital One, who sponsored the registration fees for each participant, Glasgow students raised more than $20,000 for Wesley Housing. We thank Glasgow's school administrators, teachers, and parent volunteers for their assistance in making the two-day event a success.

Your Sponsorship Helps Children Help the Homeless!

$20 sponsors one child
$100 sponsors five children
$500 sponsors a whole class

We have many school children who want to "Help the Homeless" by participating in Mini-walks and our educational programs, but are unable to afford the registration fee. Students participate in a walk and a learning game that helps them understand the challenges faced by lower income workers when trying to provide decent housing for their families.

For every $20 you donate, you will sponsor one student's participation in Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Walk and homelessness educational programs. Your help is needed if Wesley Housing is to reach its goal of $100,000. To sponsor one or more children, send your check, payable to Wesley Housing, to Wesley Housing, 5515 Cherokee Avenue, #200, Alexandria, VA 22312. OR make a donation by credit card online by clicking Donate Now and reference "Help the Homeless sponsor" in the dedication box.

Officials Break Ground on $13.7 Million Renovation of Colonial Village Apartments

Members of the Virginia House of Delegates, Arlington County Board members, senior corporate executives, supporters of affordable housing, and community residents gathered on Wednesday, October 26, to launch the $13.7 million renovation at Colonial Village Apartments. The project will preserve 129 affordable housing units. In addition to 17 new ADA compliant units, construction bump outs will provide new three-bedroom units to create more family-sized apartments. 

Partner organizations included Capital One, Virginia Housing Development Authority, Hudson Housing Capital, Hamel Builders, JDC Construction, Arlington County, Wiencek + Associates, Klein Hornig, Sheridan Ventures, Enterprise Community Partners, and The Home Depot Foundation.

Arlington County Board Chair Christopher Zummerman talked about the important role of Colonial Village Apartments in helping to maintain the diverse character of downtown Arlington. Virginia Delegates Bob Brink and Patrick Hope thanked Wesley Housing for their work to preserve affordable housing in Northern Virginia.

Prior to the event, Shelley Murphy, President/CEO of Wesley Housing, said, “Housing costs in this area are some of the highest in the nation and many of our neighbors who work for lower wages—people who are the heart of our communities—are finding it almost impossible to find affordable housing. The number of families faced with homelessness is increasing and these new larger affordable housing units will help to meet the need.”

“Capital One Bank is proud to partner with Wesley Housing and support the renovation of Colonial Village, while helping to address the unique needs of our community’s most vulnerable residents,” said Eric Lawrence, Arlington County Market President for Capital One Bank. “We believe this effort will not only expand opportunities and help to transform individual lives, but will also contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of the community.”

School Supplies Distributed at Plummer Elementary Back to School Night

On Thursday evening, September 29th, Wesley Housing distributed school supplies for 230 students in grades pre-K through 5 at Plummer Elementary School in Washington D.C. As a co-host of the school's Back to School night, Wesley Housing also provided barbecue and side dishes for the meal. The evening was co-hosted with the DC chapter of NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives) and the Capital Area Food Bank.

School supplies included, depending upon the age, backpacks or bags, pencils, pens, crayons, scissors, notebook paper, glue, tissues, and age-appropriate books.

Wesley Housing has been associated with Plummer Elementary for a number of years through the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless program. Later this month, the Plummer students will be participating in interactive educational activities that raise awareness and promote compassion and understanding of the many factors that cause homelessness. The boys and girls will also participate in a Help the Homeless Mini-Walk where the community can "see" the students helping the homeless. Wesley Housing partner companies sponsor each child so they can participate, learn, help, and receive their T-shirt telling the world they care.

We salute Principal Christopher Gray and the entire Plummer team--teachers, aides, and support staff--who are making a positive iimpact in the lives of their students.

Thank you to all who donated supplies to Wesley Housing including Wiencek + Associates Architects + Planners, Capital Area Food Bank, United Planning Organization, and the United Way of the Capital Area. A number of United Methodist churches also donated supplies including Burke, Calvary, Charles Wesley, Clarendon, Cokesbury, Community of Faith, Epiphany, Graham Road, Great Falls, Lincolnia, St. Matthew's, and Trinity UMC in Alexandria.

Wesley Housing Welcomes Paul P. Browne, Director of Real Estate Development

Wesley Housing Development Corporation is proud to welcome Paul P. Browne as its new Director of Real Estate Development.

Mr. Browne brings an excellent track record and reputation in developing affordable housing in Northern Virginia. “We are excited to have Paul join our staff,” says Shelley Murphy, President/CEO of Wesley Housing. “We know that his valuable skills will allow us to expand our capacity to better meet the critical need for affordable housing in our region.”

He comes to Wesley Housing after serving as Vice President of Real Estate for Community Preservation and Development Corporation, where he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company’s real estate development activities from project conception through completion. In his ten-year tenure with CPDC, Mr. Browne personally managed the development of several of CPDC’s most significant projects representing more than 1,000 units and over $150 million in development costs. Prior to entering the housing industry, Mr. Browne practiced law in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hundreds of Alexandria area residents came together on September 10th, 2011,
for the Acacia Federal Rock & Stroll, a community service and fundraising event
to end homelessness.

To see pictures from 2011 Rock & Stroll, click here.

For the first time, six homeless service providers Alive!, The Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless (AACH), Carpenter’s Shelter, Community Lodgings, New Hope Housing, and Wesley Housing joined together to host the event during the weekend of national service.

The mini-walk included several “situation” stations including volunteer John Ashby’s depiction of Life in a Car. Walkers were also invited to consider Life in a Box and to guess the number of beans in a jar, equal to the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Washington, DC, metro area.

Congressman Jim Moran (Virginia 8^th District), and Alexandria Mayor William Euille and Vice Mayor Kerry Donley came by to support the effort and thank the walkers for their commitment to serving those who are experiencing homelessness in Alexandria. Jay Palermino from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce served as Master of Ceremonies along with Chris Bramante from New Hope Housing.

For registrants who would rather dance than walk, there was salsa dancing as well as dancing to the music of bluegrass band Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen. Entertainment and the barbeque lunch were provided courtesy of the event’s corporate supporters including:

Acacia Federal Savings Bank
First Command Financial Planning
Reznick Group, P.C.
Hadeed Carpet Cleaning, Inc.
Covanta Energy

In-Kind sponsors included:
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
Alexandria Cupcake
Alexandria Times
MobileSignZ
Whole Foods Market

A number of area businesses donated door prizes.

Activities for the kids included hula hoops, jump ropes, bean bag toss, bubbles, stick horse races, and temporary tattoos. Original murals were created by the kids from Wesley Housing’s Whitefield Commons, Strawbridge Square, and Wexford Manor communities.

For more pictures from the event, click here.

Thank you to all the walkers, sponsors, volunteers, donors, guests, and supporters who were Rockin' and Strollin' to end homelessness on Service Saturday!

625 Fairfax County Kids Learn about Homelessness

This past summer, Wesley Housing partnered with the Fairfax County Park Authority to bring Mini-Walks to thirteen Rec-PAC summer camp sites. Rec-PAC is a six week structured summer program that serves elementary-aged children in Fairfax County. The walks tied into the camps’ theme, "Rec-PAC Gives Back." Camp activities emphasized community service and involvement.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Wesley Housing supporters, more than 625 campers were able to participate in the Mini-Walk program. The program included age-appropriate educational pieces. First and second graders talked about what it means to be homeless and drew pictures of houses they would give to a person experiencing homelessness. The older campers participated in a budgeting game that showed how the high cost of rent and other living expenses in the area could lead to homelessness. Ultimately, campers came away from each Mini-Walk event with an understanding of the importance of safe and affordable housing.

No Golden Tickets: The Truth About Affordable Housing

June 30, 2011

Two items in the news this week, Housing Vouchers a Golden Ticket to Pricey Suburbs and Luxury Affordables, would have you believe that tax-dollar supported housing programs provide lavish housing for low-income individuals and families. The stories imply that the men, women, and children benefitting from the programs exploit the system and provide no return to the community. The stories might even have you questioning how you can get this ticket to easy street.

Let’s look at the facts of affordable housing.

Working Class Families Can't Afford Market Rate Housing
It’s not just the elderly on limited incomes, the disabled who cannot work, and those unable to find work who need assistance. The greatest affordable housing need is for wage earners including frontline safety and service workers, craftsmen, administrative professionals, health workers, and teachers. Our economy cannot be successful or sustainable without the lower-income wage earners who provide essential services. click here to read the full article.

Wesley Agape House Dedicates Backyard Oasis

Friends, staff, and residents of Wesley Agape House gathered on June 22 to celebrate the opening of the community’s new backyard oasis. The latest addition to the property includes a beautiful natural wood pergola and brick patio made possible by a gift from the estate of William Nagy. The pergola was dedicated in memory of Mr. Nagy, "Agape's Friend and Tireless Advocate" as the dedication plaque reads.

As a board member in 1992, Mr. Nagy challenged Wesley Housing to develop Agape House, our community dedicated to providing affordable apartments and supportive services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Today, the home provides twelve private one- and two-bedroom apartments and a common lounge area for twenty residents.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova was on hand for the ribbon cutting as were Wesley Housing and Agape House board members, and staff from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC).

Pictured above (L-R):
Amelia Khalil, NVRC; Jim Simpson, NVRC; Rick Harshman, Wesley Housing Advisory Board; Richard Davies, Agape House Board; Wesley Housing President/CEO Shelley Murphy; Terence Johnson, Agape House Board; Supervisor Sharon Bulova, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Jan Gordon, Agape House Board; Beth Pautler, Wesley Housing Board and Agape House Board; Wesley Housing Board President Michael Graff, Jr.

On Saturday, June 25, more than 600 people attended the first regional Northern Virginia Housing Opportunities Expo at TC Williams High School in Alexandria. The expo with free admission featured workshops in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and Amharic on topics such as: What can I do to improve my credit score?; Buying your home the right way; Is renting a better deal than home ownership?: Looking to rent? What you should know; Special programs to finance your home purchase; Buying a foreclosure - Deal or no deal?; Create a successful spending plan; and Affordable housing is for others...isn't it?

Wesley Housing showcased our properties and services. The Expo was hosted by Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance in cooperation with the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church; Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun Counties; the town of Herndon; Cardinal Bank; and George Mason Mortgage.

Wesley Housing Featured in
Arlington County Ten Year Plan Success Stories Newsletter

Wesley Housing and Guest House Partner for Housing Program is the headline on the cover of the May issue of Arlington County's Ten Year Plan Success Stories newsletter. The article recognizes the innovative partnership between Wesley Housing and Friends of Guest House, Inc. that offers women re-entering the community from incarceration with a new resource that helps them overcome one of their biggest challenges: finding stable housing while they work to put their lives back together.

To read the article and full newsletter, click here.

Response to Washington Post Series

During the week of May 15, 2011, the Washington Post published a series of articles,  Million-Dollar Wasteland--An ongoing investigation into how HUD has mismanaged America’s affordable housing.

Wesley Housing Development Corporation is a member of the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND), a professional community of housing providers committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C.-Richmond corridor. The executive director of HAND, Jill Norcross, posted this letter to the editor in response to the series:

While any government waste is difficult to stomach, especially in this economic climate, “Million Dollar Wasteland” (Sunday, A1) unfairly targets the difficulties of 2.5% of the 28,000 active developments. It is unfortunate that the article fails to mention the successes of the program and the one million units of affordable housing that have been preserved and renovated with help from the HOME program to serve as safe, decent affordable housing for our nation’s working poor. Many strong, ethical and capable nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing developers take on the job of working in disinvested areas, with populations whose incomes are significantly below 80% of the area median, may be opposed by neighbors, and require multiple layers of financing (with the HOME program being only one). These developments are challenging and often take much longer to develop than a typical market-rate housing community. Our amazing democracy ensures that all stakeholders have a voice, and there are times these projects do not move forward because of local politics. Affordable housing can be a complicated, hot-button issue in many communities. The financial crisis certainly did nothing to help these projects stay on schedule, as almost all housing developments (affordable or not) suffered delays in the late 2000s. Yes, HUD can do better, and yes, government waste is unacceptable; however, it is inaccurate to portray the entire HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the developers who use these funds as ineffective and corrupt.

Wesley Housing President/CEO Shelley Murphy had this response to the series:

“Since 1974, Wesley Housing Development Corporation has acquired and developed 25 communities and provided more than 20,000 people with stable, quality housing. We are proud of our record of completing every development project we have begun.

We have utilized HOME funds in several projects, either as the primary funding source for smaller projects or as part of the funding package for larger projects. Every single project was successfully completed and today these projects house families and individuals who would otherwise be at risk for homelessness without the affordable housing option.”

 

Wesley Housing Featured in American Builders Quarterly Magazine

The May/June 2011 edition of American Builders Quarterly featured Wesley Housing and included pictures of Strawbridge Square. The publication, distributed to 50,000 readers, offers an industry-specific look at high-quality companies spanning all aspects of the building trade. Click here to read the article.