Ending Homelessness is Possible — Miriam's House Lynchburg

From our executive director

As we reach the end of the 2021, it is with gratefulness that I acknowledge all of you that supported our work during this tumultuous year—private landlords who offered rental units to our families at affordable rates, community groups who donated cleaning supplies and household items, businesses who partnered with us to offer employment opportunities for our clients, and individuals who joined The Key and committed to being monthly donors. The generosity found in the Lynchburg community this year allowed us to move 303 of our homeless neighbors into homes.

Looking back at the year, I am grateful that broad support measures such as the Virginia Rent Relief program allowed many low-income renters to stay stably housed in a year where housing was essential for community health. This meant that the Lynchburg area did not see a surge in homelessness as would have happened without this rental assistance. While many were prevented from homelessness, increased local support allowed us to serve every family that did lose their housing. Throughout the year, we were able to provide financial assistance to families as they stabilized in their new homes. I am incredibly proud and grateful that we had the resources throughout this year to move homeless families into the safety of housing and to wrap services around them to keep them stably housed.

Ending homelessness is possible. We know that the solutions to homelessness are housing along with supportive services tailored to individual needs. No child, no person, should be without a home. The variety of homeless interventions provided through Miriam’s House ensures that unhoused individuals and families are given the dignity of a home and the appropriate level of supportive services for them to remain in that home. Thank you for your partnership in our shared commitment to restore housing to our unhoused neighbors.

While we don’t know what 2022 will bring, I am grateful to live, serve, and work in this community with all of you. We will meet the challenges and opportunities of the new year together and with renewed commitment to our vulnerable neighbors.