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Information about Borromeo Housing, Inc.

• “Elizabeth’s House” shows unconditional love to all thosewho come. Diversity is welcomed and cherished.
• It is a successful transitional housing program for homeless mothers and their children that offers a new direction.
• “Elizabeth’s House” is a joint venture with the NorthernVirginia Partnership.
• Over sixty women and children have been helped through Borromeo Housing.
• Nine out of ten Borromeo Housing graduates become self-sufficient and do not return to homelessness.

Borromeo Housing provides a home to women and children who have no other place to go. It is called Elizabeth’s House, for it was Elizabeth who welcomed Mary, mother of God, into her home, and upon seeing her, felt her own child leap in her womb with joy. Since 1988, it has been home to mothers and their children who seek refuge, shelter, stability, counseling, guidance, help and hope.

“I know I have to be responsible with myself and my baby.” –Maria O.

At Elizabeth’s House, the first thing we provide is the reassurance of a stable home environment. While these young mothers are with us, our staff works with them toward a plan for a new direction. They work together on short- and long-range goals toward more education, vocation training, and learning basic life skills. We work with our families from six to eighteen months, and provide additional care after they are placed in permanent housing.

Borromeo Housing provides a bridge for women and their families who need intensive services and training to strengthen their capacity to be self-sufficient. We teach the way out of homelessness to independent living.

Our goals in working with these young women are to:

1. Promote a sense of dignity and worth.
2. Facilitate responsible living patterns, financial independence and sustained residence in permanent housing.
3. Combine public and private resources to enable young single-parent families to break out of the cycle of poverty, become self-sufficient and decrease the financial reliance on government.
4. Maintain and continually enhance this comprehensive, competency-based model that builds on family strengths.
5. Evaluate and monitor the program model for replication by other agencies and communities and share findings.

“I know I have to take charge of my life.”—Shalitta J.

The young women who share Elizabeth’s House come for many reasons: abandonment, abuse, and abject poverty. They lack the vital trust necessary to cope with a changing world. They are young women like Jessica G., who grew up in poverty, spending her childhood going from shelter to shelter with her single mother, lacking the education and good role models to shape her future. As a young teen she was abused and neglected by her boyfriend, and left to continue in this cycle of poverty with her own child, never knowing the security and safety of a home. Once rescued from a life of abandonment and despair, shown love and trust, given hope and guidance, this young woman has taken charge of her life and for the life of her baby. She is now working part-time and is studying to complete her high school education. She receives weekly counseling, and attends classes on parenting, nutrition, and budgeting her finances. A young professional serves as her mentor and in a few months, Jessica will be in a home of her own.

Borromeo Housing operates one of the only long-term transitional housing programs in Arlington County and all of Northern Virginia.

“A lot of people have helped and encourage me—I have more hope.” Lynn B.

To make a contribution, send your tax-deductible donation to:

To volunteer please call:

Membership

• Arlington Interfaith Council
• HAND (Housing Assn. Of Nonprofit Developers)
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• Virginia Housing Coalition

Corporate Supporters

• Freddie Mac Foundation
• Northern Virginia Group
• Frank & Company, p.c.
• Campaign for Human Development
• United Way, #8412
• Combined Federal Campaign #8412
• Propagation of the Faith
• The Catholic University of America

Borromeo Housing relies on the generosity of many professional volunteers and individual donors.

View 1998 photos and 1999 photos from the BHI Christmas party!

Revised/reviewed July 5, 2006