Bill Text: VA HJR430 | 2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Virginia House Joint Resolution 430 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Commending Ventures Outreach, New Hope Housing and the Rising Hope United Methodist Mission church.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3)

Status: (Passed) 2010-03-12 - House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ430ER) [HJR430 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2010-HJR430-Enrolled.html

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 430 Commending the Ventures in Community Hypothermia Outreach Program, New Hope Housing, and Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church for their work in providing shelter during the February blizzards.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2010 Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2010

WHEREAS, the Southern Fairfax County region and the U.S. 1 Corridor has a significant homeless population; and

WHEREAS, Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church has provided food, clothing, and temporary shelter to the Route 1 Corridor's homeless community since 1996, coordinating over 800 volunteers each year and providing comprehensive community services; and

WHEREAS, the Ventures in Community Hypothermia Outreach Program (VIC-HOP) was founded in 2006 as a partnership between New Hope Housing, a nonprofit agency that provides shelter for homeless families and single adults; Ventures in Community, an ecumenical group of faith communities; and Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church; and

WHEREAS, the 25-bed emergency winter shelter, located at Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church and staffed largely by volunteers from 12 faith communities, meets the needs of those lacking shelter during cold weather; and

WHEREAS, the 2009 - 2010 winter has produced a record snowfall in Virginia, with the Northern Virginia/D.C. Metro area receiving a record 54.9 inches of snow, breaking the previous record set in 1898 - 1899 and was dubbed Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse, and the Snowphoon; and

WHEREAS, the weather conditions presented a high risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and other medical conditions and the Governor declared a statewide emergency and a snow emergency was declared in Fairfax County; and

WHEREAS, the combination of the February blizzards and the economic downturn served to place an additional strain on community services along the Rt. 1 Corridor; and

WHEREAS, during the record-breaking snowfall in February, as the Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter accommodated additional people seeking shelter and as transportation became more difficult because of the snow and ice, VIC-HOP took in an additional three to seven guests per night; and

WHEREAS, VIC-HOP provided life-saving protection to guests who otherwise would have been exposed to treacherous snow and ice and life-threatening freezing temperatures; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Ventures in Community Hypothermia Outreach Program, New Hope Housing, and Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church for sheltering people during the February blizzards; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to New Hope Housing, Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church, and Ventures in Community as an expression of the General Assembly's respect and gratitude for their dedication to providing shelter to those in need.