HVA Celebrates Business, Community Support of Housing

Tampa FL

08 March, 2021

9:06 AM

Description

Hope Villages of America Celebrates Business, Community Support of Housing Focus Local civic and business leaders have challenged others to join the fight. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (Mar 8, 2021) – “Homelessness is a fight you can help us combat,” said Hope Villages of America President and CEO Kirk Ray Smith to a crowd assembled at nonprofit’s apartment-style family shelter, Grace House, in Clearwater on Friday, February 26. Smith was supported by not only his own executive leadership team and entire staff but also a phalanx ofPinellas County civic and business leaders who recognize the value of the work nonprofit Hope Villages of America, formerly RCS Pinellas (HVA), does to address homelessness. Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, Dave Siracusa of Siracusa Staffing and Leasing and Bob Childress, CEO of Solace Insurance, represented just three of Hope Villages’ many public and private partners at this community event.  “At Solace Insurance,” CEO Bob Childress shared, “we believe it is our duty to give back to our community. Homelessness can happen in a moment to anyone at any time, regardless of race, sex or beliefs. Grace House has and continues to meet the needs of families who find themselves suddenly homeless, and it is our privilege to give our support in time, talent and treasure.” Dave Siracusa of Siracusa Staffing and Leasing said, “We are so proud to support the amazing accomplishments of Grace House. Their vision and efforts to help the most vulnerable in our community are so essential. Our shared experience of who we are and what we can accomplish together in Pinellas would be so greatly diminished without the assistance that Grace House provides.” “Any kind of housing crisis impacts us all as it is a community health and safety issue,” said Smith. “The reality is: Housing is not a privilege; it’s a right. 2020 and 2021 have brought our community many challenges—and there are more to come as the eviction and foreclosure moratoriums come to an end. I’m so proud of the way our staff, board members, civic and business leaders and sponsors stepped up to stand with us, but there’s room—and an urgent need—at the table for so many more!” Smith also spoke of the nonprofit’s audacious plan to provide even more help and hope to the homeless and those at-risk of homelessness—including an expansion that will nearly double their affordable housing units—and issued a community call-to-action. Each year, HVA serves hundreds of families by providing a spectrum of housing stability services that meet Pinellas County residents at their moment of need. “The Haven provides emergency shelter for domestic violence survivors—and a new start in life. Grace House provides 80—or one-half—of the family shelter beds in the County,” Smith explained, “and provides dignified apartment-style emergency shelter to homeless families with children for up to two months. Goldsmith Gardens offers an affordable housing option to our participants as a ‘next step’ in their journey to self-sufficiency. None of these programs would be here without the support of those who live here and give here.”  MEDIA CONTACT: Jennifer Dodd | [email protected] | 813-767-7895 ###  About Hope Villages of America: Formerly RCS Pinellas (RCS), the organization established in 1967, is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that addresses the needs of the hungry, homeless and victims of domestic violence in Pinellas County. This mission is advanced through three distinct but integrated programs: Food Distribution & Basic Needs, Homeless Prevention Project & Housing Stability and Abuse Services. These programs operate in more than 60,000 square feet of service space and serve more than 130,000 participants annually throughout Pinellas County. In 2019 the nonprofit was awarded GuideStar’s Gold Seal of Transparency for the second year in a row and the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce Biggest Community Impact award. For more information, visit hopevillagesofamerica.org or call 727-584-3528.