34 Town Homes, Services, and $500K Freddie Mac Foundation Grant to Stabilize Families RESTON, Va., April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Reston Interfaith launched its new, innovative "Housing OpportUnities Strengthens Everyone" (HOUSE) program, made possible in part with a $500,000 investment by the Freddie Mac Foundation. Through HOUSE, 34 homeless families (128 individuals) will have access to town homes along with resident services with the goal of helping more vulnerable families stabilize their lives and stay in their homes. "For families who were already vulnerable, these tough economic times are even tougher," said Congressman Jim Moran, who attended the launch. "Reston Interfaith and the Freddie Mac Foundation are continuing their critical work to help house at-risk families, giving them the tools to help them succeed." "The housing provided through this partnership will play a critical role in our efforts to implement Fairfax County's plan to prevent and end homelessness," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly. "The recent point in time survey revealed there are 311 homeless families with 670 children living in Fairfax County. These houses will begin to address the need, but we as a community must dedicate ourselves to working tirelessly until each and every person in our community is permanently housed." Getting families into housing with needed support services is important to ensuring that these families and their children are productive, healthy members of our community," said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., chairman and CEO, Freddie Mac Foundation. "The HOUSE program is a critical investment that will ensure more families succeed." Unlike traditional transitional housing programs where a family's stay is limited and waiting lists are the norm, applicants for HOUSE will immediately be placed in a permanent home. Twenty-four of the homes will be filled by homeless families that have already received a Fairfax County Housing Choice Voucher, while the remaining slots will be for families that do not. This aspect is particularly important since homeless families often wait years for a housing voucher, making it difficult for them to stabilize their lives. "Healthy families living on their own -- that's our goal!" said Kerrie Wilson, CEO, Reston Interfaith. "Our community is counting on us to not let families fail. Our HOUSE program is a giant leap forward in addressing needs of vulnerable families." Giving participants real tools, beginning with housing, is key to their becoming self-sufficient and rising out of poverty. The Foundation grant will enable HOUSE to hire a full and a part-time family advocate to offer residents needed support, including providing family strengthening activities that increase their economic independence and helping them transition to other assisted/unassisted housing or homeownership opportunities. Silvia, a single mother of three and Reston Interfaith client, spoke during the event. Despite being employed, Silvia was unable to pay rent after her ex-husband stopped paying child support. She amassed significant credit card debt and faced eviction. As part of the HOUSE program, she will live in one of Reston Interfaith's town homes and receive services to help her family succeed, including upgrading her computer skills so that she can earn more. Currently, nearly 70 families are on Fairfax County's shelter waiting list. Even families who have left the shelter environment and are doing well in transitional housing are at risk of cycling in and out of poverty due to the lack of stable housing. To address this, Fairfax County is currently engaged in a 10-year effort to end homelessness. HOUSE is an outcome of this effort and recognizes that supportive, permanent housing is key to families becoming self-sufficient. More than 12,000 people are homeless in the Washington, DC area, and nearly half are children and families. A majority of these families live in the suburbs, including Fairfax County. Homelessness increases the likelihood that families will dissolve. And homeless children are more likely to be placed in foster care, are less healthy, experience disruptions in schooling, and are more likely to have developmental delays than other children. Created by Freddie Mac in 1991, the Freddie Mac Foundation is dedicated to making home a place where children and families thrive. As the largest corporate funder in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Freddie Mac and the Freddie Mac Foundation have invested more than $321 million in organizations serving the community. http://www.freddiemacfoundation.org/ Reston Interfaith is a nonprofit organization serving Northern Virginia that promotes self-sufficiency through support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other services. Founded in 1970 by area religious organizations, Reston Interfaith has become a leading social service provider in Northern Virginia, offering comprehensive programs for more than 13,000 individuals and families in Reston, Herndon, and the surrounding area last year. For more information, contact Reston Interfaith at 571-323-9555 or visit http://www.restoninterfaith.org/. DATASOURCE: Freddie Mac Foundation CONTACT: Shawn Flaherty of Freddie Mac Foundation, +1-703-903-4384, or Amanda Andere of Reston Interfaith, +1-571-323-9570 Web site: http://www.freddiemacfoundation.org/ http://www.restoninterfaith.org/

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