ANCOR Foundation Walk for Disaster Relief Helps Disabled Individuals Displaced by Hurricane Katrina Return Home
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Volunteers of America employees at the ANCOR Foundation Walk for Disability Relief
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The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR) Foundation Walk for Disaster Relief, held on April 15, raised money to help 20 disabled individuals served by Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans' Supported Living Services return to their homes.
The walk raised $10,000 from nationwide supporters of the disability community. The funds will be used to provide critical items such as furniture, clothing and vital home repairs. |
Volunteers of America Applauds President for Authorizing The Second Chance Act
Organization Collaborated with Members of Congress to Advocate Passage of Bill to Help Ex-Offenders
Volunteers of America applauds President Bush for signing into law The Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention. The bipartisan bill was passed by unanimous consent by the U.S. Senate in early March and by the U.S. House of Representatives last summer.
The Second Chance Act represents a significant improvement on existing federally funded programs for the safe reentry of nearly 700,000 offenders who are released from state and federal prisons each year and return to local communities. The legislation authorizes $362 million to states, local governments and nonprofit organizations that operate programs that help former prisoners find job training, literacy training, substance abuse treatment, counseling and housing. More >
Historic Building Revitalized: The Blakeley Building Opens in Lawrence, MA
| A marriage of old and new, the project pairs the redevelopment of a 118-year-old commercial building with new construction to provide 46 apartments and 4,200 square feet of ground floor retail space. Residential units include 36 two-bedroom and 10 one-bedroom apartments. The $14 million project took 18 months to complete with the first residents moving in February 2008. It is the first residential housing community completed by Volunteers of America in Massachusetts.
The six-story Blakeley Building was built in 1890 and used as office space for almost 100 years. It was vacant for 10 years but many of its historic façade features remained intact. An adjoining building was built in 1879 but had been modified repeatedly and lost its historic value. This building was demolished as part of the renovation and a new six-story building was constructed in its place. The new building contains four ground floor retail bays, a management office, laundry and a six-story central atrium with a skylight. More > |
The atrium of the newly restored Blakeley Building |
Seniors Coming Back Home to New Affordable Housing Community in New Orleans
| Volunteers of America breaks ground on a new senior affordable housing community March 14 in New Orleans. The Terraces on Tulane, expected to be complete late 2009, will offer residents health and medical services, transportation services, and planned social, educational and recreational activities. More > |
 A number of current and former New Orleans seniors, who have expressed interest in moving into The Terraces on Tulane, attended the March 14 groundbreaking. |
North Dakota College Students Pitch in for Green Project in Shreveport
Students from North Dakota State University teamed up with Shreveport Green and Volunteers of America to construct four raised bedding gardens at Greenwood Lodge Apartment complex for adults with disabilities. More >
Rochester City Clothing Drive Receives 2,000 Coats
More than 2,000 Rochester kids will be wearing new coats on the way home from school this week, thanks to a Volunteers of America clothing drive. More >
Dublin Village Residents Celebrate National Senior Independence Month
The residents of Dublin Village, a retirement village managed by Volunteers of America, observe National Senior Independence Month in February by hosting an open house, enjoying parties and staying informed on community affairs and a healthy lifestyle. More >
Wyoming Halfway House Offers Second Chance to Incarcerated Women
Gillette, Wyoming-based Booth Hall, operated by Volunteers of America, serves 126 women who are considered inmates by the prison system but are called residents at the facility, from which they commute to jobs around Campbell County each day. More >
Volunteers of America Fights for Affordable Housing and Supportive Services for Veterans
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On December 5, Executive Vice President of Operations and Strategic Development Karen M. Dale testified before a House subcommittee about the need for affordable housing and supportive services for veterans.
One in three homeless men is a veteran. Nearly 500,000 veterans will experience homelessness this year. Finding affordable housing and supportive services for the homeless veteran population is of utmost importance. Today, Volunteers of America is at the forefront of the issue of homeless veterans as a service provider and an advocate. |
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Volunteers of America is committed to continuing its partnership with federal, state and local government to serve America’s veterans by providing medical care, supportive services and affordable housing. Read the full testimony.
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