OUR BOARD

David Rissmeyer – Chair
Elizabeth Cianciolo – Vice Chair
Martha Johnson – Secretary
Linda Ellis – Co-Secretary
Chris Vames – Treasurer
Salome Baugher
Ken Beals
Bob Norvell
Butch Shifflett
Philip Swann
Karen Cochran • Emeritus

Lou Siegel was named VSH Executive Director in 2019. Before joining VSH, Siegel was a leader in regional charities, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs. Most recently he served as executive director of the Rockfish Valley Foundation, a Nelson County environmental 501(c)3.  Previously he held senior executive positions with several international corporations in the areas of project development, marketing and sales. Lou is an engineering graduate of VMI and holds an MBA from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

IRS 990 Forms for VSH

2020 Form PDF
2019 Form PDF
2018 Form PDF
2017 Form PDF
2016 Form PDF

ABOUT VALLEY SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

CREATED TO RESPOND TO CHANGE AND IMPROVE LIVES

Supportive housing is a combination of housing and community support services to help people live a more stable and productive life.

Supportive housing helps individuals who face the most complex challenges obtain stable housing.

These are people who struggle with homelessness, very low incomes, and serious, persistent health issues.

In 2005 those with mental illness, intellectual disabilities or substance issues were finding it almost impossible to find decent affordable housing.

Property values were rising and old homes once divided into small apartments or with rooms to let were being reconverted to single family residences.  Traditional rooming facilities like Staunton’s historic old Stonewall Jackson Hotel were being closed.  The old hotel underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion to reopen as a new hotel and conference center. Suddenly anything approaching decent housing for this population was becoming too expensive – or simply not available.

Many of these individuals have an extremely low income. Frequently they are forced to live in unsafe, unsanitary and generally unhealthy conditions. Some have no home and live with friends, in shelters or on the street.

Valley Area Community Support Inc. (VACSI) – now Valley Supportive Housing – was formed late in 2005 to respond to these growing needs, to find ways to create affordable and safe housing for these individuals and to provide some of the special services they need, but that might not be available in the community.

VACSI purchased its first property that same year, the old Effie Ann Daycare Center at 1314 West Johnson Street in Staunton.  The facility was to have 10 attractive and affordable apartments, plus space for a Valley Community Services Board program.  Rental of the office space would enable the charity to offer rents at well below-market levels. Following a lengthy and sometimes contentious process, VACSI obtained a permit for the project.

Opposition from a few in the community and the city planning department caused Staunton City Council to limit the permit to 3 years, and required a final review at that point.

Valley Supportive Housing has subsequently purchased and renovated five other houses in Staunton, and – in 2018 – completed renovating the former office space at the original property into 8 additional efficiency apartments.  Today VSH has 42 apartments – with plans for more in the near future. The 501(c)3 charity also maintains special funding for other needs for the population it serves, and has Memorandums of Understanding with the Valley Mission, Valley Community Services Board, Hall Community Services and working relationships with other community groups such as the WARM shelter in Waynesboro, and Western State Hospital. VSH also works closely with other local services to meet the needs of its residents.

HOW THE MONEY WORKS AT VSH

VSH has an approximate $300,000 per year expense budget. Rents cover 76% of these costs. Remember – VSH charges below-market rent rates, intentionally, to fit into the typical tenant’s $793 per month income. The other 24% comes from local grants such as from the United Way – SAW, the Community Foundation for the Central Blue Ridge, CAPSAW, and from donations from community members like you. One can put one’s hand on what we do. Thank you.

OUR VISION
All persons with behavioral health diagnoses have access to a safe place to live.

OUR MISSION
Life stability for individuals with behavioral health diagnoses through quality, safe, affordable housing, and partnerships for appropriate supports to assure tenant success.