THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 13, 1996 TAG: 9602130244
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DIANE TENNANT, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
Two hundred good Samaritans extended a hand to the homeless Monday night and, on Wednesday, they'll hold it out to the rest of Hampton Roads.
A monthlong campaign to raise $500,000 - a dollar at a time - to save eight shelters for Samaritan House will begin on Valentine's Day. Volunteers will go door-to-door throughout Hampton Roads and some businesses will display donation canisters. Many service groups and businesses will be challenged to match donations from similar organizations.
By March 14, organizers hope to have enough money to buy the shelters, which provide temporary housing for homeless families and victims of domestic violence.
The shelters had been leased from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for $1 a year. But budget cuts forced HUD to cut back on the lease program. Unless Samaritan House raises enough money to buy the shelters, they will close in March 1997.
``Just because the federal government has changed a few rules, we as individuals will refuse to accept that we need to go under and perish,'' said Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, at Monday night's Save Our Shelters rally.
Since Samaritan House began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1984, 1,500 families have been helped. But for each family given shelter, another nine are turned away because no space is available, organizers said.
The fund-raising campaign would provide only enough money to continue the program as it exists. It would not allow Samaritan House to expand its services to more families, said Ellen Ferber, executive director. ``We've been faced with many challenges over the years but none so great as this, as we stare down the spectre of losing eight of our 10 shelters, even as we turn away nine out of 10 families,'' Ferber said.
High school cheerleaders and a number of speakers urged volunteers to join in the campaign to ask for donations of $1 a person throughout Hampton Roads. But the standing ovation was reserved for a former shelter occupant identified only as Sandria, who told of fleeing domestic violence three years ago with her two children.
``One of them had her shoes in her hand because there was no time to put them on,'' Sandria said. ``The menu I had planned for that night I left on the stove. We were full of fear. What would I have done if there had been no Samaritan House?''
The shelter program provides temporary housing for up to 45 days. Counseling, job information training and parenting classes are provided. Transitional housing is provided while families get back on their feet and become self-sufficient.
About 65 percent of the victims who stay at Samaritan House are children. For them, the organization provides play therapy and outings to help them cope with the stress of being homeless.
Large donations have come in even before the campaign officially begins. Organizers announced approximately $13,000 has been received toward the half-million-dollar goal. MEMO: Contributions may be sent to Samaritan House, 2697 International
Parkway, Parkway 2, Suite 107, Virginia Beach, Va. 23452, by CNB