HomeAid National Capital Region Completes $165,319 Renovation at The Laurel Center

Winchester, VA. – December 15, 2025 – HomeAid National Capital Region, a nonprofit that works to provide safe and dignified housing and programmatic facilities to other nonprofits, has completed a major renovation for The Laurel Center, a Winchester-based nonprofit that empowers those affected by domestic and sexual violence by providing emergency housing, advocacy, outreach, support services, education and awareness.

In partnership with Richmond American Homes and 21 generous trade partners, HomeAid renovated the 3,200-square-foot building that houses The Laurel Center’s Empowerment Center, enhancing both functionality and accessibility for staff, volunteers, and the women they serve.

The renovation included a significant reconfiguration of the interior space to better support program delivery which included the addition of a new office, copy room, server room, and an ADA compliant bathroom as well as sealing off an old intake window to create another new office. The scope of work included installed brand new luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring throughout to improve cleanliness and functionality, adding new lighting across the facility for enhanced comfort and safety, installing a handicap accessible water fountain, applying a fresh coat of paint throughout including custom color accent walls. In the relocated breakroom new countertops, cabinets, and a refrigerator were installed. An electrical panel was also relocated to better accommodate programming and classes.

Exterior improvements were made to enhance accessibility and functionality. A new handicap-accessible ramp now leads into the Empowerment Center.

The Empowerment Center addresses the unique challenges faced by survivors of domestic violence, challenges that often hinder their ability to pursue education, job training, and long-term stability. Domestic violence can disrupt participation in job training programs, whether due to lack of partner support or deliberate interference. Survivors often require wraparound services such as counseling, legal assistance, and safety planning, which many traditional workforce programs are unable to provide.

The Laurel Center’s Empowerment Program bridges this gap by offering supportive services alongside job-readiness training, life skills development, job placement assistance, and hands-on work experience. By providing both immediate and long-term support, the program significantly increases a survivor’s ability to achieve economic self-sufficiency and independence.

The renovated Empowerment Center will allow The Laurel Center to better meet the needs of domestic violence survivors and deepen its impact in the community. The enhanced space offers a more efficient and supportive environment for individuals seeking services as they take steps toward rebuilding their lives.

“This renovated space will make an immediate and lasting difference for the survivors we serve,” said Faith B. Power, Ed.D., Executive Director of The Laurel Center. “The improvements will allow our staff to deliver critical services more effectively and give survivors a welcoming environment where they can begin healing and preparing for their futures. We are deeply thankful to HomeAid, Richmond American Homes, and every Trade Partner who helped bring this vision to life.”
The Railway Café, now open to the community, is a central feature of The Laurel Center’s Empowerment Program. The Café offers hands-on job training, skill development, and interim employment opportunities for survivors, while also serving as a welcoming gathering place for the many health and human service organizations located nearby. In addition to providing healthy and affordable food options, the Café hosts community events and supports program participants as they gain workforce readiness skills in a real-world environment. The basement of the Empowerment Center, which provides essential storage and operational support for the Café, was also renovated with fresh paint, refinished epoxy floors — creating a cleaner, more functional space that strengthens the Café’s daily operations.
Richmond American Homes generously volunteered as HomeAid’s Builder Captain and recruited various trade partners to assist in donating time and materials needed for the project, managed the scope of work and construction progress, and helped provide the leadership and direction to complete the project. The following trades generously donated their time and expertise to the project.

Annandale Millwork and Allied Systems
Atlantic Building Supply, Inc.
Builders First Source, Inc
Colonial Sash & Door, Inc.
Colorworld Painting & Drywall Services, Inc.
Countryside Electric
Darvish Interiors
GE Appliances
GLS Plumbing
K&M Contracting, Inc.
Loudoun Stairs, Inc.
MasterBrand Cabinets
Metro Stone Works
Ridgerunner Container Service
Sherwin Williams
Smartcom Home Technologies
Star Concrete Foundation, Inc.
V&M Builders and Contractors, LLC
Virginia Cleaning and Punchout
William H. Metcalfe & Sons, Inc.
Wetzel & Son Enterprises, Inc.


“Creating safe, functional, and dignified spaces is at the heart of HomeAid’s mission,” said Kristyn Burr, CEO of HomeAid National Capital Region. “The renovation of The Laurel Center’s Empowerment Center will directly support survivors, offering them a space that fosters stability, confidence, and hope. We are incredibly grateful to Richmond American Homes and our Trade Partners for coming together to make this transformative project possible.”

HomeAid National Capital Region's Builder Captain, Richmond America Homes, along with 21 Trade Partners, celebrated the project's completion with a ribbon cutting on December 12, 2025, the event was a celebration of everyone's hard work and dedication in bringing this important renovation to completion. Thanks to the partnership of HomeAid, Richmond American Homes and the Trade Partners who worked on the project, they saved The Laurel Center $105,804 in labor, time, and expertise which is a 64% savings of the retail value of the construction project.

About HomeAid National Capital Region
HomeAid National Capital Region builds and maintains housing and programmatic facilities for nonprofit organizations serving those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness by leveraging their relationships within the building industry to garner in-kind donations of labor and materials. HomeAid has completed more than 205 construction projects that together have served as a safe and stable space for more than 339,000 vulnerable individuals in our community.

About The Laurel Center
The Laurel Center empowers individuals and families affected by domestic and sexual violence by providing comprehensive emergency shelter, advocacy, crisis intervention, outreach, and prevention education. Serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley, The Laurel Center operates the region’s only secure, trauma-informed emergency facility for survivors, offering 24/7 services designed to ensure safety, stability, and long-term healing. Through a continuum of care that includes emergency shelter, legal and medical accompaniment, counseling, workforce development through its Empowerment Program, and community education, The Laurel Center works to break the cycle of violence and build pathways to independence, resilience, and hope for survivors of all ages.