Volunteers of America’s Residential Family Center is Formally Dedicated

Volunteers of America Residential Family Center to be formally
introduced to Sacramento community at Feb. 23 dedication
HomeAid Sacramento, Standard Pacific Homes, Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design
among those to be acknowledged during Tuesday's dedication/open house event

(Sacramento, CA)
The Volunteers of America Residential Family Center, a safe, secure and comfortable haven for homeless families will be formally dedicated during an open-house event at 2 p.m. Feb. 23.

Located in downtown Sacramento at 470 Bannon St., the shelter formerly hosted single men and women, but has since been reconfigured into a 62-bed emergency shelter appropriate for couples/single parents and their children thanks to the generous efforts of HomeAid Sacramento, the North State Building Industry Association, Standard Pacific Homes, Lacin/Christophel Mural & Design, as well as 19 additional contractors, suppliers and supporters.

Current Volunteers of America clients have also participated in the building's renovation, volunteering their time to "give back." Among those who have found the Residential Family Center to be a much-needed temporary sanctuary are Tikia Artis and her 6-year-old son, Jeremiah. When Artis' roommate of eight months suddenly left her alone with their shared apartment of eight months, she fell behind on her rent and was given an eviction notice. "I just didn't have the money to pay my rent," says Artis, whose mother recently moved back to their native Virginia. "It was pretty scary; I was afraid that my son and I were going to end up living on the streets."

A referring agency put her in touch with Volunteers of America and she and her son were accepted into the new Family Residential Center the same day. "It was a huge relief,"she says. Having recently completed her GED, Artis is currently studying for U.S. Army entrance exams and plans on joining a medevac unit. She says her son will be staying with her mother while she's in training.

Figures cited in the 2008 Sacramento County Children's Report Card, suggest more than 6,200 children experience homelessness annually in Sacramento County. The Volunteers of America Family Shelter provides a safety net for men and women and their children; a haven where they can receive the necessary services, including transportation to and from school, as well as referrals that will help them establish transitional or permanent housing.

The Residential Family Center, directed by Elizabeth Valentine, currently hosts free one-hour tours of its facilities, where the public can meet both Volunteers of America staff and its clients and learn first-hand the continued importance of emergency shelters.

To make a donation, to volunteer, or for more information, please contact Kim Castaneda, community relations manager, at (916) 442-3691, or at . For information online, please go to http://www.volunteersofamerica-sac.org. You can also find Volunteers of America Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/voasac.

About Volunteers of America
Established locally in 1911, the Greater Sacramento & Northern Nevada affiliate of Volunteers of America is one of the largest providers of social services in the region, operating more than 40 programs dedicated to ending homelessness, supporting the most vulnerable populations and transforming communities for the better. Its ministry of service supports and empowers America's most vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, seniors, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions.

Founded nationally in 1896 by Ballington and Maud Booth, Volunteers of America strives to help those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Through thousands of human service programs, Volunteers of America helps nearly 2 million people in more than 400 communities annually.

About HomeAid Sacramento
HomeAid Sacramento, the charitable arm of the North State Building Industry Association, seeks to build and maintain dignified housing where homeless families and individuals can rebuild their lives. This charity has successfully matched local service providers in need of refurbishing, expanding or building new shelters with homebuilders able to fill that need since 1996. It's builders doing what they do best: building. HomeAid gratefully acknowledges its major donors: Lennar Charitable Housing Foundation; Dennis Calmes and Jeani Buckmaster; Harry C. & Deborah L. Elliott Family Foundation; Bank of America; Union Pacific Foundation; Greg and Linda Grant; and Teichert Foundation. For additional information, please call 916.751.2746, or go online at http://www.homeaidsac.org.