In this issue:
Reflecting on Homelessness Awareness Month
Zonda and HomeAid Event Raises over $130,000 for HomeAid's Mission
HomeAid Affiliates Celebrate Completed Projects
Turn Compassion into Action During Homelessness Awareness Month
Bringing Homelessness Into Focus - HomeAid Colorado's Youth Projects
HomeAid Affiliates Bring Joy and Warmth to Their Communities this Holiday Season
Ways to Give - Every Donation Can Make a Difference
Recommended Reading - Welcome Homeless by Alan Graham and Lauren Hall
HomeAid National Capital Region Featured in Builder & Developer
HomeAid Sponsors
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Reflecting on Homelessness Awareness Month 2024: Sharing The Full Story
As November comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a deeply impactful Homelessness Awareness Month for HomeAid and our communities across the nation. This year’s theme, “The Full Story,” resonated powerfully as we explored the complexities behind homelessness and highlighted the humanity and resilience of those experiencing it.
Every person facing homelessness has a story, shaped by circumstances like job loss, medical emergencies, domestic violence, or the lack of affordable housing. By focusing on “The Full Story,” we sought to move beyond the surface and encourage understanding, compassion, and action.
Construction: Building Foundations for New Stories
Throughout this month, we showcased HomeAid’s commitment to constructing more than just buildings—we’re building futures. Each home we create becomes a new chapter in someone’s story, offering safety, stability, and hope. Our affiliates and partners across the country continued to make tangible impacts, bringing together builders, volunteers, and donors to create spaces where individuals and families can rebuild their lives.
Community Engagement: Writing the Story Together
Homelessness is a shared challenge, and this month has shown how communities can come together to address it. Through volunteer events, storytelling campaigns, and local partnerships, we saw countless people join us in fostering understanding and action. By engaging with the stories of those we serve, communities became active participants in crafting solutions and offering support.
Education: Unveiling The Full Story
Knowledge transforms perspectives. This November, we worked to educate communities about the root causes of homelessness, dispelling harmful myths and revealing the realities many face. By sharing stories of struggle and resilience, we aimed to inspire empathy and equip individuals to take meaningful action.
Continuing the Work: A Call to Action
As we close out this impactful month, I encourage you to continue writing “The Full Story” of hope and change alongside us:
- Support Construction Projects: Help us create safe, stable housing by donating today. Your financial support directly contributes to building futures for those in need.
- Engage in Your Community: Volunteer with your local HomeAid affiliate or other organizations addressing homelessness. Together, we can amplify our impact.
- Educate and Advocate: Share what you’ve learned this month. Talk to your friends, family, and representatives about homelessness and advocate for policies that increase access to housing and support services.
November has been a reminder of the power of storytelling to spark understanding and action. As we continue the work beyond this month, let’s keep the momentum going, ensuring that every story of homelessness leads to a new chapter of hope, stability, and dignity.
Scott Larson
CEO, HomeAid America
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Zonda and HomeAid Team Up on Annual Event that Raises Over $130,000 to Help Those Experiencing or at Risk of Homelessness
On Friday, November 8, HomeAid and Zonda once again teamed up to host their annual Housing Market Outlook Breakfast in Newport Beach, California. This event not only showcased Zonda’s Ali Wolf’s, housing market forecast for the upcoming year but also highlighted the work of HomeAid over the past 35 years. This event raised over $130,000 to go towards accomplishing HomeAid’s mission of building a future without homelessness.
“This 2025 Housing Market Outlook breakfast with Zonda was a powerful example of what we can achieve together. Zonda’s expertise and dedication to supporting HomeAid’s mission helped bring industry leaders together to gain invaluable insights while raising crucial funds for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We are deeply thankful for Zonda’s ongoing partnership and their commitment to making a tangible difference in communities across the country." — Scott Larson, CEO of HomeAid America
The sold-out event brought many of the building leaders together to network and listen to a panel of industry experts discussing the current trends. The building industry panel, led by Tim Sullivan with Zonda, consisted of Ziv Cohen, The Resmark Companies, Lisa Fjelstad, Taylor Morrison, Adrian Foley, Brookfield Properties, and Jeremy Parness, Lennar.
The second panel, led by Scott Larson, HomeAid, brought together building industry icons who have been longtime supporters and founders of HomeAid. This panel was made up with Julie Brinkerhoff–Jacobs, retired from Lifescapes Inc., Dan Hanson, loanDepot, Theresa Murphy, Precious Life Shelter, and Larry Webb, The Webb Group. They discussed the importance of giving back and helping those who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. They each spoke of how HomeAid has been the bridge between the building industry and working to solve the homelessness crisis for the past 35 years.
This event is an annual occurrence and will be back next November, stay tuned for details to come.
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HomeAid Affiliates Celebrate Completed Projects
HomeAid Inland Empire’s Executive Director Matt Friedlander & Board President Brian King got a tour of their recently completed project: An exterior renovation of the 2nd-floor decking and concrete stair replacement at Operation SafeHouse's Transitional Living Program apartments.
The 2nd floor decking and plywood underneath had rotted out and many of the concrete stairs were loose and/or broken. The stairs were replaced with new precast concrete stairs, and all the decking was replaced.
HomeAid Los Angeles thanks Builder Captain William Homes for taking the lead on this important project with Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley which opened its new resource center, Williams Hope House in Newhall on Tuesday, Nov.12 with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony.The space will bring needed wraparound services and shelter to families experiencing homelessness in their community as they get back on their feet. A big thank you to Lance and Sadie Williams for their incredible leadership and dedication to the project, and our mission to build a future without homelessness.
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Help HomeAid and Those in Your Community Experiencing or at Risk of Homelessness
If you are looking to stay warm this winter or need holiday gifts, shop at Sackcloth + Ashes and help a facility in your community as well as HomeAid. When you purchase a blanket at Sackcloth + Ashes during November, use the code HOMEAID at checkout. You will receive a 15% discount and 10% of the proceeds go to HomeAid. Every time you purchase a blanket, Sackcloth + Ashes then will donate a blanket to a shelter in your community.
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Bringing the Issue of Homelessness into Focus
HomeAid Colorado Youth Projects
HomeAid Colorado is the connector between construction-industry professionals and affiliates to complete construction projects and provide critical resources to non-profit care providers who assist those in our community at a high risk of homelessness. By maximizing HomeAid’s relationships within the building industry, new construction and renovations are completed as affordable as possible.
HomeAid Colorado has had the privilege of working with several non-profit agencies in the past few years that focus on children and adolescents. In a world where challenges facing children and adolescents are increasingly complex, the role of non-profits is crucial in ensuring that young people receive the support they need to thrive. By addressing the root causes of homelessness and providing essential resources these organizations are working tirelessly to build a brighter future for the next generation. Preventing homelessness among children and adolescents requires a multi-faceted approach, and non-profit organizations play a pivotal role in this endeavor. Together we can ensure that no child or adolescent is left without a home.
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Through several Fall HomeAid Essential Drives, HomeAid Affiliates and Their Communities Work to Bring Holiday Joy and Warmth to Those Experiencing or at Risk of Homelessness Across the Nation.
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We believe that every donation, small or large, has the power to make a difference
In addition to small or large cash donations, there are alternative ways to give to HomeAid that benefit both the donor and HomeAid.
- Recurring donations: Monthly donations are great for donors who want to give a little each month to support HomeAid. These gifts support operations, especially through lean times.
- In-kind donations: It is a great way to support HomeAid, donating construction materials, goods, services, or your time to HomeAid.
- Volunteering: This is a great way to use your time and skills to help a HomeAid’s mission.
- Financial donations: Financial gifts are crucial for HomeAid because they provide the necessary funds to operate and carry out their missions,
- Stock donations: Donate stocks to HomeAid. This can be tax-beneficial for donors who itemize their taxes.
- Matching gifts: Employee matching gift programs are corporate giving programs in which the company matches donations made by employees to HomeAid."
Please reach out to Marisol Parand at mparand@homeaid.org with questions.
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Welcome Homeless: One Man’s Journey of Discovering the Meaning of Home by Alan Graham with Lauren Hall
In Welcome Homeless, Alan Graham shares a deeply moving and transformative perspective on homelessness and the power of community. As the founder of Mobile Loaves & Fishes in Austin, Texas, Graham has dedicated his life to serving those experiencing homelessness, and this book captures the stories, insights, and lessons learned along the way. Co-written with Lauren Hall, Welcome Homeless is both an inspiring memoir and a thought-provoking call to rethink what it means to create "home."
At the heart of the book is Community First! Village, is a groundbreaking housing development in Austin that provides permanent supportive housing for individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness. But this is no ordinary housing project, Community First! Village is designed to foster dignity, belonging, and purpose. Graham shows how addressing homelessness requires not just roofs and walls but the cultivation of relationships and community.
This vision aligns perfectly with HomeAid’s mission to build new lives for individuals and families experiencing homelessness through housing and support services. HomeAid Austin has been a proud partner of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, contributing to the construction of housing at Community First! Village. In addition, it has inspired the work of other affiliates including HomeAid Hawaii and their kauhale villages. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to providing not only shelter but also a sense of home and hope for those in need.
Welcome Homeless challenges readers to move beyond stereotypes and to see the humanity in everyone. Through heartfelt stories of the people Graham has encountered, the book underscores that home is more than just a physical space—it’s a place where individuals can heal, find connection, and rebuild their lives.
We encourage everyone in the HomeAid family to read Welcome Homeless for its powerful reminder of why our work matters. Alan Graham’s journey is a testament to the transformative impact of compassion, community, and creative solutions in the fight against homelessness. Together, we can continue to create spaces where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
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