About Us
Homestretch is a non-profit organization designed to address the root causes of homelessness for each family and reverse it.
Many of our clients arrive at our doorstep in fervent despair. Many are fleeing for their lives from domestic abuse. Many are trapped in the cycle of poverty.
All our clients have children under the age of 18.
Homestretch is one of the few programs in the country with the comprehensive services to gather each family, address each dynamic, and enable permanent change.
Homestretch families are able to achieve transformational change because they have, perhaps for the first time, the chance to address every problem in their lives with sufficient support to make swift and lasting progress.
Because our expectations are high and we have such faith in what they can do, and because we remove all the reasons why they can’t, the families tend to make greater and more fundamental changes in their lives than they thought possible.
Our program isn’t for everybody. It works best for people who really want to change their lives.
But at Homestretch, we – the Homestretch staff – feel like we – our clients, our volunteers, our donors, our supporters – are all in it together, and we hope you feel that way, too.
With your help, true progress becomes truly possible.
“By giving them a place to live, their temporary homelessness is addressed; by giving them the tools to become self-sufficient, their poverty is ended. Homestretch aims to go deeper than merely providing housing; we address the fundamental causes of poverty for each family we serve.”
— CHRISTOPHER FAY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Our Mission
The mission of Homestretch is to empower homeless families with children living in Virginia to attain permanent housing and self-sufficiency by giving them the skills, knowledge and hope they need to become productive participants in the community.
Since our inception in 1990, we have assisted over 2,000 families to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. The aim is to surround the homeless families with such vigorous supports that they can address the multiple barriers in their path and make as dramatic progress as possible while they are in Homestretch.
Why We Do What We Do
Our program is designed to work with each family, individually, to help the family develop a measurable and achievable service plan which addresses the root causes of homelessness.
65% of the families we serve are homeless due to domestic violence, while others are homeless due to medical crises, human trafficking, loss of loved ones or some other economic downturn.
Homestretch graduates break the cycle, which means their lives, and their children’s lives, are uplifted.
After the Homestretch program, families are able to:
Find a full-time job and stay employed
Graduate from high school
Complete college or vocational school
Focus on building self-sufficiency
Pay taxes, pay off debt
Own a home