FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Margaret Brown
margaret@mlbpr.com
703-898-9443
Leesburg, Va. (July 10, 2021) – The COVID-19 pandemic is subsiding, but its ramifications continue, particularly in the areas of housing, hunger and emergency support for those in crisis. To support nonprofits serving area residents in these and other areas, 100WomenStrong recently granted $75,500 in a 10th round of COVID-19 emergency funding to five Loudoun County nonprofit organizations. This round of funding will bring the philanthropic group’s total COVID-relief aid to $763,373.
“One of the biggest and longest lasting issues created by the pandemic is the inability for millions of Americans to pay for their housing. Here in Loudoun County, this is exacerbated by a lack of affordable housing,” Kirsten Langhorne, chair of 100WomenStrong’s affordable housing committee. “A report the County recently shared[1]included information from the Virginia Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech stating that a large portion of County residents cannot afford to live here. These residents work in sectors that pay lower wages and often must choose to commute from areas with less expensive housing, live with roommates or actually pay more than they can afford.
“The report shows that the overall median rent in Loudoun County is $1,674. Only three of the top 10 occupations – electricians, office clerks and customer service representatives – can afford to rent here and that is only if they are earning at the top of their fields,” Langhorne continued. “Supporting nonprofits that help with rental assistance is a top priority for 100WomenStrong. We have created a working group to study the issue and hope to work with the County and other organizations as they study it and evaluate potential solutions.”
Details of this round of funding are as follows:
- Loudoun Cares – $15,000
- To distribute directly to renters. They will combine efforts with faith-based groups and non-profits to provide up to $2,300 per family.
- Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers – $7,500
- To provide services to seniors, adults with disabilities and chronic illness, homebound individuals and families needing food, transportation or medicines from pharmacies, as well as home repairs and connection to the community.
- Salvation Army Loudoun Corps – $18,000
- To continue the COVID emergency feeding program and fill the void for the Feed the Hunger of Loudoun program through the end of July.
- Gabriel’s Episcopal Church – $20,000
- Provide rental assistance to help keep families in their homes.
- Tree of Life Ministries – $15,000
- To support for the Transitional Housing Program to provide an affordable, safe place for women-led households in crisis to meet heightened demand due to COVID-19.
100WomenStrong has disbursed 63 COVID-19 emergency response grants to nonprofit organizations that serve Loudoun County. They also purchased and distributed PPE for first responders early in the pandemic. The group’s “Pay it Forward” Direct Assistance loan program in partnership with Northern Virginia Family Service helps area residents cover basic expenses. For more information about eligibility requirements and an application for the Pay it Forward Loan Program, visit the Northern Virginia Family Service website here.
About 100WomenStrong
Formed in 2008, 100WomenStrong is a group of concerned philanthropists seeking to strategically invest in organizations and programs that enrich the lives of Loudoun County residents. They are committed to improving the quality of life for residents of Loudoun County, Virginia, through strategic grants to non-profits working in the areas of shelter, health, hunger and education. Members of 100WomenStrong connect and collaborate to leverage their philanthropic resources as a component fund of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties.
For more information about 100WomenStrong, visit www.OneHundredWomenStrong.org or contact Pam Ray at Pam@OneHundredWomenStrong.org
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