VOACC Contact: Nicholle Granger
ngranger@voaches.org
LAWSON FAMILY FOUNDATION Contact: paula miller
pmiller@lawsoncompanies.com
FEB 12, 2025 | NORFOLK, VA
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (VOACC) is excited to announce that we have been awarded a $100,641 renewal grant by the Lawson Family Foundation Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation to support the Market Heights Neighborhood Program. This program is designed to expand access to vital social services resources and support for residents of Market Heights Apartments and other community members in need.
Located at 651 May Avenue in Norfolk, Market Heights Apartments is a 100% affordable 164-unit Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) apartment community developed by Lawson. The apartments have become a place of community for income-constrained households, many of whom rely on Medicaid and food stamps to get by.
According to the 2022 PLACES: Local Data for Better Health report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among Market Heights residents over 54% had high blood pressure and 26% suffered from diabetes. There are many underlying factors that contribute to these health risks, including limited access to nutritious food, affordable care, and critical social services. Using a community-driven approach, the Market Heights Neighborhood Program leverages service provider partnerships to offer the following onsite and community-based support that help to improve the health and wellbeing of residents in need.
- Food & nutrition
- Medical & mental health
- Financial Literacy
- Job opportunities & trade programs
- Childcare
“The Lawson Family Foundation is proud to renew our support for programs that strengthen communities and lift up people in our community. By renewing this grant, we continue our commitment to creating meaningful change for residents of Market Heights Apartments and the surrounding area. Our ongoing partnership with VOACC reflects our dedication to fostering a more vibrant and resilient community.”
Steve Lawson, Chairman, Lawson Family Foundation
As an integrated housing, health and human services nonprofit, VOACC understands that secure housing is just the first step to ensuring long-term health and independence. Since 1896, VOACC has provided evidence-based and whole-person solutions to underlying barriers to good health and wellbeing for the most vulnerable in our communities.
“We are deeply honored and grateful to receive this grant, which will empower us to continue our mission of making a positive and lasting impact in the Market Heights Community. This partnership with The Lawson Family Foundation not only strengthens our joint ability to deliver critical services, but also highlights the shared commitment we have to uplift the community as a whole. We look forward to working together to create meaningful change.”
Scott Pitts, Director of Housing Services, VOA Chesapeake & Carolinas
To learn more about the Market Heights Neighborhood Program, visit www.voachesapeake.org/market-heights.
About the Lawson Family Foundation Fund
The mission of the Lawson Family Foundation Fund is to engage with effective and compassionate local partners to collectively enable individuals in our communities to flourish, dream, and craft brighter futures for themselves. We believe in the transformative power of education, financial empowerment, health and well-being, and strong social connections to create a brighter future for our residents and the neighborhoods we serve.
The Lawson Family Foundation Fund is administered by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, a community foundation serving South Hampton Roads.
About Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas (“VOACC”) is a faith-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire self-reliance, dignity, and hope through housing, health and human services.
At VOACC, we have been helping to create Healthy Communities for All for over 128 years by aligning housing, health and human services. We actively pursue health equity by filling the gap in housing and care for underserved populations, including those who are experiencing homelessness, low-income, underinsured or uninsured, justice-involved and veterans. By offering integrated housing and care, we address the social determinants that impact the long-term stability for those in need.
Through a dedicated team of management, staff and volunteers who are guided by our Core Values – Visionary, One Body, Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, and Faith – we are the safety net for thousands of men, women and children each year across Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and the Carolinas. We operate over 49 programs focused on 8 areas of service: homeless services, affordable housing, mental health, substance use recovery, intellectual/developmental disabilities services, community re-entry, veteran services and workforce development.
VOACC has over 900 staff members and more than 2,000 volunteers. The organization helps over 11,700 individuals and families every year from Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and the Carolinas. For more information on VOACC, please visit www.voachesapeake.org.