Manassas Family Care Shelter Expansion Complete

A newly-revamped building with the very special purpose of helping families in need was dedicated this week in Manassas.

The 4,000 square-foot, $950,000 expansion and renovation of the Northern Virginia Family Care Shelter on the campus of SERVE on Dean Drive is now complete, thanks to the collaboration of several agencies, such as builder Captain K. Hovnanian Homes and 29 trade partners, Graham Marsden, director of agency communications at Northern Virginia Family Service said this week.

The project increased shelter capacity by more than 50 percent, bringing the total number of beds to 92 from 60. Staff say the shelter can now serve and additional 250 a year. 

Common-use areas and a separate family wing were expanded and the existing shelter was renovated and now includes larger work spaces for staff, larger gathering spaces for residents, new flooring, new interior paint, new cabinetry in the playroom and a relocated and expanded outside play area.

The renovation, which was facilitated by HomeAid Northern Virginia, allows the facility to provide adequate shelter for families in transition while allowing them convenient access to onsite programs. 

These programs offer training and counseling space so more individuals can get the life skills necessary to move on from transitional shelters.

Marsden said HomeAid Northern Virginia works to leverage the home building community's resources  to help renovate homeless shelters, transitional houses and other facilities that help homeless people gain stability. 

As a result, construction costs are reduced and funds of the nonprofit organizations can be used to help needy families in other ways. 

Thursday dedication was attended by many from Manassas, including and council members , J and Mark D. Wolfe.  Virginia Sen. George Barker and Del. Richard L. Anderson were also among the guests at the dedication.

Speakers were: Wendell J. Chambliss the executive director of the Freddie Mac Foundation and vice president and deputy general counsel, mission, legislative and regulatory affairs department at Freddie Mac; Elijah Johnson, director of the Prince William County Office of Housing and Community Development; Mike Schuerer the president of HomeAid Northern Virginia and Pete Thompson the group president of K. Hovnanian Homes.