Foundation Wins National Award for Its Homeless Work

Gosnold Apartments is the first regionally supportive permanent housing community in the United States. It was built in Norfolk with help from community foundation grants.

New Orleans — The Hampton Roads Community Foundation was recognized on September 10, 2012 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Council on Foundations, as one of 10 recipients of the first annual Secretary’s Award for Community Foundations. The award honors community foundations for their innovative public-philanthropic collaborations designed to address housing and community development challenges.

The awards were announced during the Council’s Fall Conference for Community Foundations in New Orleans. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation was the winner for HUD Region III, which includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Deborah M. DiCroce, president and CEO, accepted the award. Leigh Evans Davis, director of program and donor services, led a discussion of the foundation’s work.

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation was honored for helping the City of Norfolk advance its plan to end homelessness in the city within 10 years . Since 2005 the community foundation has invested more than $2 million in grants that have funded in Hampton Roads the country’s first regional permanent supportive housing communities for homeless adults, helped start a housing broker program that increased the number of affordable housing units, and provided funding for the Regional Taskforce to End Homelessness.

Community foundation grants helped sponsor Project Homeless Connect events, which link homeless adults with services such as getting new glasses

HUD and the Council on Foundations’ Public-Philanthropic Partnership Initiative developed the new award to recognize community foundations for enhancing the quality of life for low-income and moderate-income families. The projects addressed issues concerning housing and neighborhood improvements, education, health and recreation, transportation, arts and culture, public safety, sustainability and economic development. An expert panel selected one award recipient from each of HUD’s 10 regions.

"The Hampton Roads Community Foundation and the other honorees are shining examples of what it means to be a community foundation, demonstrating leadership, vision, partnership, and investment,” said Vikki N. Spruill, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations. “As long as there are communities in need, community foundations will be there to innovate, take risks, and have a positive impact for the people they serve.”

Community foundations in America administer more than $49 billion in charitable funds in more than 725 regions throughout the country. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is the largest grant and scholarship provider in southeastern Virginia awarding more than $164 million since 1950.

Read more about the Hampton Roads Community Foundation's efforts to end homelessness in Hampton Roads. Here are the 10 winners of the first Secretary's Award: