The 5k Home Run For The Homeless Is Raising Awareness About Employed and Homeless Individuals and Families In The City of Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax Counties
Community Lodgings, Bridges to Independence and Homestretch are partnering to shed light on homelessness in Northern Virginia with its First Annual 5k Home Run for the Homeless on Saturday, September 15, at Bluemont Park, 601 North Manchester Street in Arlington, Va at 9 a.m. ET. The run will also follow the northwest trail toward Falls Church and is limited to 250 registrants.
All organizations share a similar mission of providing homeless families with support and resources. The programs are designed to ensure families go from instability to self-sufficiency through transitional and affordable housing, youth education and mentoring, case management, therapy, employment training, and financial literacy.
“Northern Virginia is known for its wealth but it is important to remember the cost of living in this area is 40 percent higher than the national average”, said Lynn Thomas, Community Lodgings, Executive Director. “As a result, families must earn an average of $70,000 a year to live comfortably, and many of our clients are victims of domestic violence, immigrants, and/or working daily but do not earn enough to afford the basic necessities”, Thomas continued. “The primary goal of the race is to inform community members about homelessness and encourage them to become involved.”
According to the 2018 Point in Time survey, 1,434 individuals are homeless in Northern Virginia and 70 percent of homeless adults are employed in Northern Virginia. The average cost of rent is $2,103 per month, according to data from the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. Community Lodgings, Bridges to Independence and Homestretch are committed to providing homeless families with the necessary skills, supports and resources to decrease their chances of being homeless again.
“The Home Run is a great opportunity for people to support not just one, but three organizations working to help Northern Virginia families overcome homelessness”, said Sam Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Bridges to Independence.
To register, please visit https://goo.gl/GtrFqe. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and information can be accessed by visiting http://ow.ly/97jf30lcRPJ. For those who cannot participate in the run, please consider volunteering to provide on-site support with registration, parking and on the starting line. Volunteers can sign up by visiting, https://goo.gl/SSAMRA.
The Home Run sponsors include Virginia Premier, John Moriarty and Associates, Arlington Turkey Trot, McEnearney Associates, Excella and Dennis and Susan Fitzpatrick.
About Community Lodgings
Celebrating 30 years of impact in the local community, Community Lodgings lifts families from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency through its affordable housing and transitional housing options, as well as community outreach and youth education programs. To learn more about Community Lodgings, please visit communitylodgings.org and connect with us on social media at on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Homestretch
Homestretch, an acclaimed 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, makes self-sufficiency possible for dozens of homeless parents with children every year. In operation since 1990, Homestretch provides homeless families with safe housing in neighborhood homes while they progress through a rigorous two year program designed to build their finances, restore their health, improve their life skills, and launch them into careers. At the end of their time at Homestretch, families graduate from the program into permanent housing they can afford on their own income. And 95% of Homestretch families remain housed and employed years after exiting the program. To learn more about Homestretch visit www.homestretchva.org.
About Bridges to Independence
Bridges to Independence leads individuals and families out of homelessness and into stable, independent futures. A private, nonprofit organization, Bridges has been working with and for homeless families since 1985, when it was founded as the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. We offer a continuum of aid and support for all family members, helping them attain financial security and move forward into self-sufficiency. As homelessness is often episodic, their other priority is working closely with former participants to ensure they remain securely housed and do not fall into homelessness again. To learn more about Bridges To Independence, please visit https://bridges2.org/.
The executive directors of Community Lodgings, Bridges to Independence and Homestretch are available for interviews to discuss resources for the homeless in Northern Virginia and ongoing commitment to end homelessness.
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Media Contact
T-Kea Blackman, 908-414-1468, t-keablackman@community-lodgings.org
