HomeAid Washington DC is an affiliated program of the Home Builders Care Foundation (HBCF), the principal charity of the Maryland-National Capital Building Industry Association. Similar to the in-kind construction program of Home Builders Care, HomeAid's mission is "to build dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives." The addition of HomeAid allows HBCF to more fully serve the homeless needs of the Washington region and the District specifically.
In the Washington DC area the need to build supportive housing and provide shelter for the homeless is continuous. Our region requires more resources and greater visibility in helping end homelessness. Home Builders Care and our new HomeAid Washington DC chapter is one such resource that is able to help to improve the lives and living conditions of our neighbors who are homeless.
According to the preliminary results of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments 2009 Homeless Enumeration Report, 12,012 people in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area are homeless, including people who are living on the streets, staying in shelters or living in transitional (or temporary) housing. Of these individuals and persons in families, 6,228 (approximately 51%) are in the District of Columbia.
How HomeAid Works
The HomeAid program works similarly to the Home Builders Care Foundation's charitable construction program. HomeAid acts as bridge between homeless care providers who need new or remodeled housing program facilities and the home building community. Typically, HomeAid is able to help the care provider build or renovate their property - for about half of what it would normally cost.
The Four Steps of HomeAid's Model Housing Development Program - After careful review, a local Care Provider's shelter-related project is adopted by the chapter
- The chapter recruits a Builder Captain to help spearhead the project
- The Builder Captain, with assistance from the chapter, secures donated labor, materials and related construction development services from trade partners
- The HomeAid team builds new or renovates the housing facility for the care provider.
Because every project has its own challenges, this model is adaptable. Our HomeAid DC chapter is in the process of exploring a number of alternative approaches for utilizing building industry resources and providing our renowned cost-effective construction solutions to help increase and maintain the supportive housing stock in the region. Do you know of a housing project that would benefit from our expertise? Please let us know about it!
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