In this issue:
HomeAid's 2025 Spring / Summer Dipaer Drives Make Huge Impact
HomeAid Hawaii dedicates Ka La'i Ola: a Testament to Resilience, Partnership and Hope
HomeAid Affiliates Building a Future Without Homelessness
HomeAid & Zonda Host Annual Housing Market: Early Bird Pricing Ends Tomorrow!
Ways to Give - Giving this Fall Season
HomeAid Podcast: Unsheltered Conversations - New Episodes Available
Term of the Month: Inflow
Recommended Reading: New HomeAid America recommended reading website page
Builder and Developer - HomeAid Minnesota
HomeAid Partners
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HomeAid Affiliates Across the Country Provide Millions of Essential Baby and Hygiene Items to Families in Need
HomeAid Affiliates, in collaboration with building industry and nonprofit partners nationwide, collected and distributed over 7.4 million essential items through the 2025 Spring/Summer HomeAid Essentials Diaper Drives, which took place from March to August. These items, which include diapers, wipes, personal care supplies, and clothing, serve as a lifeline for children, parents, and individuals facing the harsh realities of homelessness or housing instability.
This year, ten HomeAid affiliates participated in the HomeAid Essentials diaper drive campaign, rallying their local communities to help meet the urgent needs of families experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The need is significant. According to a 2025 report from the National Diaper Bank Network, approximately 46 percent of families with children aged three or younger struggle to afford an adequate supply of diapers. In that same research, one in four parents and caregivers who could not afford enough diapers reported missing work or school because they couldn’t leave their child at childcare.
HomeAid’s Essentials Drives are designed to close this gap. By mobilizing the building industry alongside local communities, the drives ensure that service providers nationwide can directly deliver these vital supplies to the families who need them most.
The HomeAid Essentials program is a year-round initiative that collects and distributes critical items, including baby essentials, as well as essential hygiene items, blankets, socks, underwear, coats, hats, backpacks, toys, nonperishable food, and water. The impact of all 2025 essential drives will be reported at the end of the year. To find an affiliate near you to get involved with this vital program, please click the button below.
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Ka La‘i Ola: A Testament to Resilience, Partnership, and Hope
On September 24, I had the honor of joining our Chief Affiliate Officer, Brenda Ketah, in Lahaina for the dedication of Ka La‘i Ola, Maui’s largest interim housing development for wildfire survivors. Standing on that land and seeing what has been accomplished in just two years since the devastating fires was deeply moving and unforgettable.
When the wildfires swept through Lahaina in 2023, the loss was staggering; families were displaced, homes were destroyed, and an entire community was shaken. Yet what I witnessed this week was the remarkable resilience of Maui. On 57 acres of land, 450 homes have been completed, providing safe housing for more than 320 families and nearly 900 individuals, all built in less than 18 months. Ka La‘i Ola is more than a development; it is a symbol of hope, healing, and the strength of community.
This extraordinary outcome would not have been possible without the leadership of Kimo Carvalho, Executive Director of HomeAid Hawai‘i. Kimo’s vision, fortitude, and tireless work over the past two years have been nothing short of inspiring. Working together closely with Governor Josh Green and the State of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, private funders, local organizations, and the people of Maui, in a partnership, made this day possible.
I left Lahaina filled with gratitude not only for the lives that have been changed but for the example set by Kimo and HomeAid Hawai‘i. Their work reminds all of us why HomeAid exists: to build a future without homelessness, even in the face of unimaginable challenges.
With gratitude,
Scott Larson, CEO, HomeAid America
Pictured above in the first photo: Left to right, Brenda Ketah, HomeAid Amiera Chief Affiliate Officer, Kimo Carvalho, Executive Director of HomeAid Hawai‘i, Hawai'i Governor Josh Green, and Scott Larson, HomeAid America Chief Executive Officer. The second photo shows the entrance to the community, and the third photo features Scott Larson, HomeAid America Chief Executive Officer, and Kimo Carvalho, Executive Director of HomeAid Hawai‘i.
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HomeAid Affiliates Continue to Complete Projects and Build a Future Without Homelessness
HomeAid National Capital Region transformed this two-level townhome in Alexandria, owned by Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services. This is just one example of the impact of HomeAid’s Turnover Program, which helps prepare homes for new tenants by replacing worn carpet with luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring and adding a fresh coat of paint.
In this home, Stonemark Flooring replaced the existing carpet throughout the living spaces and bedrooms with LVP and recarpeted both stairwells. The entire project was completed in just one week with a retail value of $10,700. HomeAid fully funds the Turnover Program with the help of our trade partners and generous donors.
HomeAid Utah recently dedicated nine newly renovated bathrooms at The INN Between!
These updates mean more safety, comfort, and dignity for residents receiving medical respite and end-of-life care. Huge thanks to Destination Homes, Rich Miner, and our incredible trade partners for making this project possible.
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How to Give This Fall
As the autumn season begins, it's a perfect time to reflect on the power of giving. At HomeAid, we believe every donation, whether large or small, helps us build a brighter future. While we are grateful for one-time gifts, there are many creative and impactful ways you can give back that benefit both you and our mission.
Not all donations are monetary! In-kind donations of professional services, construction materials, or other goods are essential to our work. We also rely on the dedication of our volunteers, who give their time and skills to support our mission directly. For those who prefer to give financially, a recurring monthly donation provides a consistent stream of income that is crucial for our day-to-day operations. Another simple way to double your impact is through matching gifts. Many employers will match your charitable donation, so be sure to check with your company's HR department.
Your contribution directly supports the creation and renovation of dignified housing for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This is more than just a roof over someone's head; it is a crucial step toward stability, health, and regaining self-sufficiency. Dignified housing provides a safe, clean, and stable environment that helps individuals regain their physical and mental well-being, secure employment, and ultimately, rebuild their lives."
For more information, please get in touch with Marisol Parand, HomeAid’s Chief Development Officer, at mparand@homeaid.org.
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HomeAid America Launches National Podcast for Deeper Understanding of Homelessness Issue
Unsheltered Conversations is HomeAid America’s national podcast hosted by Chief Executive Officer, Scott Larson.
This production aims to humanize the issue of homelessness by exploring the real stories, relationships, and responses that offer hope and solutions. Through candid interviews with builders, advocates, nonprofit leaders, people with lived experience, and authors, the podcast elevates the voices shaping the future of housing and belonging in our country.
Each episode will explore a specific aspect of homelessness or housing insecurity, inviting listeners to gain a deeper understanding of the issue and their role in finding a solution.
Unsheltered Conversations will be published on Tuesdays, two to three times a month, on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. Please click the button below to view all episodes of HomeAid’s new podcast.
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Term of the Month:
Inflow
The number of people entering the homeless services system each year. Inflow is not synonymous with the number of people newly experiencing homelessness, as it also captures people with previous episodes of homelessness and homeless people with unmet needs carrying over from the previous year.
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HomeAid Launches New Book Recommendations Page on National Website
Lead with Learning
At HomeAid, education is one of our core pillars because knowledge helps us build stronger communities.
That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of our new Book Recommendations page! This resource compiles all the book reviews featured in HomeAid’s monthly newsletter and consolidates them in one location, making them easily accessible and shareable.
These titles shine a light on critical themes connected to HomeAid’s mission, including:
- Housing and Homelessness – exploring systemic causes, solutions, and stories of resilience.
- Dignity and Compassion – memoirs and reflections that help us see the humanity in every person.
- Community and Service – stories of how individuals and organizations create change together.
- Inspiration and Resilience – books that encourage us to lead with courage, hope, and empathy.
Whether it’s a memoir like The Freedom Writers Diary, an inspiring guide like Shaun Tomson’s The Surfer and the Sage, or children’s titles like Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen, these books help us better understand both the challenges and the possibilities of ending homelessness.
We encourage you to explore the collection, share with others, and use these reads as starting points for reflection and discussion with your families, colleagues, and communities.
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