Our Story
Shelter House, Inc. is a community-based, non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention, safe housing, and supportive services to neighbors experiencing homelessness and victims of domestic violence in our community.
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Our organization was formed in 1981, as a grassroots responder to the homelessness crisis in Fairfax County. Community volunteers from several ecumenical groups joined together to help address the needs of their homeless neighbors. They started by providing direct emergency assistance – items such as blankets, food, and warm clothing were distributed from the trunks of their cars.
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The tragic hypothermia death of a homeless man on Christmas day in 1983 in the Bailey’s Crossroads area galvanized the community to do more. Churches opened winter shelters, and Shelter House volunteers and other advocated to Fairfax County Government to devote more public resources to the homeless.
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As a result of this advocacy, Shelter House secured a County contract in 1985 to open one of the first charter shelters in Fairfax County. Since then, Shelter House has continued to grow as an organization in order to accommodate the growing needs in our community, by also expanding into Loudoun County. Today, Shelter House operates five shelter facilities and several housing programs.
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Mission
To prevent and end homelessness and domestic violence by engaging the community.
Vision
We envision a community free of homelessness and domestic violence.
Values
Our Core Values Are: Inclusivity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Empowerment = iCARE
Board of Directors
David L. Ginsberg
Chair
TJ Adams
Vice Chair
Ike Eichenbrenner
Secretary
Sopa Keo
Treasurer
Marcia Bradford
Board of Shelter House
Nazanin Razavi
Human Resources
Scott Covino
Founding Partner of Red Rock
Sharon Fitzpatrick
CEO of The Fitzpatrick Group
Thomas G. Goodwin
President of Thomas Goodwin Communications
Erika James Jackson
Shelter House Board of Directors and Women’s Empowerment Group
Clyde "Sonny" Ellis
Former Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of Parsons Corporation
SVP - Chief Accounting Officer at MicroStrategy Incorporated
​Jeanine Montgomery
Bill Grossman
Pastoral Associate with St. Mark Catholic Church in Vienna, Virginia
Ângela Harpalani
Staff analyst, budget analyst and contractor in the areas of accounting, acquisitions
Nancy Socher
Recently served as President of the Madison Athletic Booster Club
Management Team
Joe Meyer
Executive Director & CEO
Dani Colón
Deputy Executive Director
Breonna Phillips
Director of Equity & Inclusion
David Maloney
Controller
Laura Woody
Chief Program Officer
Nurjan Ahmedova
Directior of Development
Anique Posey
Director of Operations
Bobbi Brown
Director of Programs and Services, Region II
Mindi Merriam
Senior Director of Domestic Violence Services
Victoria Tillman
Director of Artemis house Programs and Services - Region I
Katie Parkinson
Director of Domestic Violence & Supportive Housing
Jessamyn Ayers
Director of Data Analytics and Insight
Sheree Fryar
Director of Programs and Services Region IV
Sandra Mclean
Diversion Program Manager
DAVID L. GINSBERG
CHAIR
A Message From Our Executive Director & CEO
As I look at the growth of Shelter House since our inception in 1981, I am extremely proud of what we have been able to achieve. I am even more excited about our outlook for an equally promising future. We have successfully managed full operation of six major shelters in Northern Virginia. We have transitioned from managing critical housing issues to gathering the support of our community and establishing strategies to END homelessness and domestic violence.
It is satisfying to know that we have the support of our local government, our staff, and our community in acquiring the necessary resources to reach our goals. This collective support enables us to continue to launch new strategies and establish new partnerships. As a result, we are able to ensure the families in our community have a safe and stable place to call home.
Talented Staff: Among our most important assets is the well qualified and passionate staff. They empower the families and children to become independent citizens of our community. From our Executive staff to our Leadership Team and front line Service Delivery Team; Shelter House is committed to delivering the highest quality service and providing unparalleled service to our clients.
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Community Focus: Shelter House is committed to the community in which we do business. We are dedicated to the Blueprint for Success in preventing and ending homelessness in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. Through our work with the State, County, large businesses, small business and individuals; we are vested both professionally and fiscally as we continue to assess the needs and work hard to to identify solutions.
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Collaboration: As our community strengthens, each new day offers a chance for us to work together, pursue new opportunities and improve upon the past. We establish in-depth relationships with our clients by learning their environments and the challenges they face. In doing so, we are better equipped to offer tangible solutions. We continue to manage our business around the evolving needs of our community– and that puts us at the forefront of CHANGING LIVES.
Sincerely,
Joe Meyer, Executive Director and CEO
Join Our Team
We have several job openings throughout Fairfax and Loundon Counties across all of our programs.
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From Program Direction, Housing Services, Case Management, Community Coordination and more, you could help us be one step closer to achieving our vision of a community free of homelessness and domestic violence.
For more information regarding our internship opportunities, please contact our Department of People and Culture: hr@shelterhouse.org.
Shelter House participates in E-Verify and will provide the Federal Government with your Form I-9 information to confirm you are authorized to work in the U.S.