[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 95 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1000-E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2013 SHELTER HOUSE, INC. VOLUNTEER 
                                 AWARDS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2013

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the remarkable efforts 
of Shelter House, Inc., and to congratulate the recipients of the 2013 
Volunteer Awards. Shelter House is a community-based, non-profit 
organization that works to break the cycle of homelessness by offering 
support to those most in need in the Northern Virginia community. 
Shelter House provides crisis intervention, temporary, transitional and 
permanent housing, training, counseling, and programs to support self-
sufficiency. Of course, none of this would be possible without the hard 
work of dedicated volunteers.
   Shelter House was founded in 1981 by several faith groups, which 
came together to better serve low-income individuals and families. 
Shelter House operates three shelters: The Katherine K. Hanley and the 
Patrick Henry family shelters, which provide temporary housing for 
local families who become homeless, and Artemis House, Fairfax County's 
only emergency shelter for families and individuals fleeing domestic 
and sexual violence and human trafficking. In 2013, Shelter House added 
permanent housing to its portfolio by partnering with Falls Church 
Presbyterian Church to open the Ives House to three homeless/unstably 
housed families to provide additional case management support to 
increase their self-sufficiency.

[[Page E1001]]

   The programs operated by Shelter House have contributed greatly to 
breaking the cycle of homelessness. In FY2012, Shelter House decreased 
the average length of stay for families in its shelters by 30 percent, 
and 72 percent of families at the Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter 
and Patrick Henry Family Shelter moved into permanent housing, 
representing a 12% increase over the previous fiscal year. At Artemis 
House, 67% of households moved to safe and stable housing--an increase 
of 5% from FY2011. In FY2012, Shelter house prevented 40 households 
from becoming homeless, and 80 percent of families staying in its 
transitional and permanent supportive housing programs increased their 
employment income by an average of more than $650 per month. Volunteers 
and community partners are essential to this success, as they provide 
the tools necessary to combat homelessness. Their time, money, and 
effort compose the foundation of Shelter House's commendable work.
  This year, Shelter House has recognized the following individuals and 
partners for their outstanding commitment to ending homelessness in our 
community: Changing Lives Awards--Passion 4 Community, Lord of Life 
Lutheran Church, and St. Luke's United Methodist Church. Community 
Champions--Falls Church Presbyterian Church, Madison Ridge, and McLean 
Bible Church. Ending Homelessness & Domestic Violence Awards--Pat 
Kuehnel, Keller Williams Fairfax Gateway Office, and Lori Tagami. Youth 
Volunteer Award--Natalie Hancher, Molly Sullivan, Charlotte Lackey, 
Girl Scout Troop #1732, and Rock Spring UCC YORS (Youth of Rock 
Spring). These individuals and organizations certainly deserve special 
recognition for their dedication to Shelter House. However, we also 
must acknowledge the importance of all Shelter House volunteers, as 
well as the private sector and government partners who constantly 
strive to better our community through efforts to provide secure, 
structured environments, as well as indispensable support, for families 
in need.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing our sincere 
appreciation to Shelter House and its many volunteers and community 
partners. Their selfless work benefits the entire Northern Virginia 
community and improves the lives of many of our neighbors.

                          ____________________