From Spring 2025 InRoads Newsletter
So far, 2025 stands out as a year of many unknowns. Changes at the federal level, for example, make it unclear if and how funding for many housing, homelessness, and mental health programs will continue without interruption. What we do know is that the need for stable housing and mental health support still exists. Uncertainty, job losses, and other changes will likely lead to a higher need for both housing and services as more people experience life crises. Yet, amid these uncertain times, Pathway Homes remains focused on home.
We are moving forward with plans for our new headquarters, which we envision as an innovative, mixed-use hub. Located in Fairfax City, this refurbished facility will not only house our administrative offices but also provide homes for an additional 10 people with behavioral health issues who are working to recover their lives.
We are also “putting wheels” on our work to get people home! Our planning and fundraising efforts over the last year have enabled us to soon launch the region’s first mobile shower and wrap-around services program. Our hope is that by helping connect those who are homeless with showers, utilizing a retrofitted trailer, we will also create a comfortable space where these individuals will be more open to connecting with other life-changing resources, including safe, stable housing.
Research shows that providing non-time-limited housing is the most effective way to create and maintain long-term stability for individuals living with mental illnesses. The ripple effects that come from the initial investment in assisting individuals in need include benefits for the families of Pathways residents and, ultimately, for the entire community. This is an especially important point to consider in the Northern Virginia region, where affordable housing is notoriously hard to find.
Pathway Homes currently owns, leases, and manages over 500 properties in Northern Virginia in order to provide housing for our neighbors who are marginalized by poverty and inequity. That is a huge volume of properties that we are responsible for maintaining to ensure our residents live in safety and experience a high standard of living, and we simply could not do that successfully without the help of our supporters and donors.
This past quarter, we received a grant from Sentara, one of the nation’s top 20 largest not-for-profit integrated health systems, to help support ongoing maintenance of homes in Prince William County. A home is the best first step for people with mental health struggles as they transition back to healthy, productive lives, and Sentara’s continued, significant investments are helping us welcome more people home.
In addition to providing direct services, we have also been a voice for those who need one. I recently wrote a column for Fairfax County Times supporting an important budget agreement approved by the Virginia General Assembly that supports housing stability. If signed by the Governor, the $20 million budget agreement will establish a monthly rent relief program for families to keep their housing expenses affordable in the long-term, enabling families to stay in their current homes or find more stable, permanent housing.
Despite the ongoing changes, our residents continue to stay focused on their goals of recovery and living their best lives. In fact, we will again host an art show at the Fairfax County Government Center from July 1-30 showcasing the hope and talents of those whose lives we touch. Their art and personal stories are always inspiring and provide a spark of optimism as we move through the year.
Looking ahead, we will continue to drive home the importance of housing as we make healthy homes possible for more people. Thank you for supporting their journeys and helping them dream of better tomorrows.
Dr. Sylisa Lambert-Woodard
President and CEO
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About Pathway Homes, Inc.
For more than 45 years, Pathway Homes has enabled tens of thousands of people in Northern Virginia and the National Capital Region with serious mental illnesses and other co-occurring disabilities to access affordable housing and critical supportive services to help them recover their lives. Following the housing first model, Pathway Homes is a partner in preventing and ending homelessness, touching more than 2,000 lives in 2024 and ensuring access to affordable stable homes in permanent supportive housing units.
