The Connection

Homestretch hosted its annual benefit breakfast on Wednesday, May 15, and raised over $100,000 for its program and services. Homestretch provides housing to homeless families with children, along with services such as case management, job training, job placement and financial education to parents. The organization also provides a number of services to the children in the program, including: tutoring, field trips, holiday gifts, bicycles and birthday cakes.

Congressmen Gerry Connolly and Jim Moran have been longtime supporters of the organization and spoke on its behalf. Retiring Del. Jim Scott was honored by Homestretch for his tireless advocacy on behalf of homeless families and affordable housing. Congressman Connolly said that Fairfax County was at the forefront of addressing homelessness in the early 1990s by setting aside one penny for every thousand dollars of tax revenue and "If Nancy Taxson (Homestretch's founder) was the mother of those efforts, then Jim Scott was the father." Congressman Moran added: "When we think of human trafficking, we think of it as somewhere else, but it is here," because a number of families in Homestretch have been trafficked.

CHAIRMAN of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Sharon Bulova added that since the recession, the revenue from the "penny fund" has decreased, placing additional pressure on local nonprofits to provide for the needs of homeless families. "Seeing the turnout of local policymakers, businesses and donors reaffirmed my faith and confirmed the support that Homestretch enjoys," said Christopher Fay, executive director of Homestretch. “This year, Homestretch is especially grateful to Chris and Mary Beth Romani of Integrity Consulting for becoming our Headline Sponsor for the breakfast and Burton White and Excella Consulting for agreeing to match any donation of $200 or more." Homestretch also recognized Homestretch founder Nancy Taxson and David Legge for his 18 years of board service and financial support.

Attendees at the breakfast heard from three Homestretch clients. "These clients are a great example of what Homestretch can do for homeless families. In fact, almost all of our clients make significant gains while with us. The average client enters with debt of $6,300 and leaves with $4,300 in savings, 62 percent enroll in a training or educational program while at Homestretch and 100 percent of last year’s graduates have maintained stable housing since leaving Homestretch," Fay added.

THOSE INTERESTED in learning more about Homestretch can visit the organization's website at: www.homestretch-inc.org or Facebook at: www.facebook.com/HomestretchVA. They can also contact Paul Zurawski at pzurawski@homestretch-inc.org or 703-237-2035x108.