Bill Text: VA HJR154 | 2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Menchville House Ministries, Inc.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2012-01-20 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ154ER) [HJR154 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2012-HJR154-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, Menchville House Ministries, Inc., is commended for its efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness in the Hampton Roads area; and WHEREAS, in 1998 Menchville Baptist Church members Barbara Biery, Carol Masser, and Phyllis Walker began discussing the need for long-term transitional shelter for homeless women and children in the area; and WHEREAS, the women formed a nonprofit organization, Menchville House Ministries, Inc., with the mission "To help homeless women and their children return to self-sufficiency by providing a temporary home and supportive services"; and WHEREAS, Menchville House Ministries purchased an 18-unit apartment building in Newport News which had a notorious reputation for drug use and crime, requiring daily police visits from 1996 to 2000; and WHEREAS, with generous donations of supplies and equipment, Menchville House Ministries volunteers worked diligently to transform the apartment building and grounds into an attractive, child-friendly, and welcoming group home; and WHEREAS, forty-three local churches, individuals, and organizations graciously furnished and decorated the individual rooms; each room is marked with a plaque that names the donors; and WHEREAS, Menchville House Ministries also renovated an adjacent four-apartment building that welcomed the organization's first resident on April 12, 2001; the date also marked the beginning of the organization's "From Hurt to Hope" program to assist women to become self-sufficient; and WHEREAS, Menchville House Ministries provides case management, mental health assessment/referral, medical assessment/referral, employment and educational assessment/referral, financial literacy training, childcare assistance, support groups, youth programs, and instructions on computer use; and WHEREAS, over the past 10 years, Menchville House Ministries has sheltered over 750 homeless women and children for up to 24 months while providing essential services to assist the women in developing the skills necessary to support themselves and their children; and WHEREAS, Menchville House Ministries has had a tremendously positive influence on the women and children it has served, providing vital education, support, sanctuary, and training; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend Menchville House Ministries, Inc., for its dedication to serving homeless women and children; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Menchville House Ministries, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the organization's commitment to helping end homelessness.
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