Economic Prosperity

River Counties Community Foundation supports programs designed to increase economic prosperity in our area, including safe and affordable housing, effective workforce development and financial literacy programs. Underscoring the importance of these services is the cycle of poverty that impacts pockets of our region.

Our priority is to support systems and initiatives that empower individuals and families to secure stable housing, build skills and seek resources that help them achieve good health, successful educational outcomes and economic potential.

Our goals:

• Residents have opportunities to access and maintain safe and affordable housing in thriving, sustainable communities.
• Residents are able to build the knowledge, skills and resources they need to attain financial independence and pursue career opportunities.

Habitat for Humanity Middlesex

Recent Grants

Spring 2018

The Middlesex Foundation – $50,000 to plan and construct an affordable apartment community for county teachers, sheriff deputies and other county and agency personnel, modeled after Mercer Place in Lancaster. Multi-year Award of $150,000 (2017-2019)

Habitat for Humanity of Middlesex - $30,000 to support the development of subdivision plans, survey work, tree clearing, road permit work and road construction, resulting in 6-7 buildable lots.

Middlesex Department of Social Services (2) - $16,000 to support the Rapid Re-Housing program in Middlesex County to provide safe, stable housing for families and individuals experiencing homelessness; and $4,000 to support Two-Gen programming to address generational poverty.

Bay Aging (Bay Transit) - $18, 084 to support the continued operation of a second public transportation bus in Middlesex County in collaboration with the county.

Hands Across Middlesex Interfaith Outreach (2) - $13,700 to support the Emergency Home Repair Program which provides maintenance, improvements and emergency home repairs to physically and financially disadvantaged residents of Middlesex County so that they can continue to live in their homes with dignity; and to provide a third-party consultant to work with the organization’s leadership on strategy and planning.

Northumberland Public Library - $10,000 to operate and maintain a Mobile Library to provide outreach library and technology services to citizens and visitors in Northumberland County.

Lancaster/Northumberland Interfaith Service Council - $5,906 to purchase lumber and other materials to build  ramps, replace roofs, well pumps, hot water heaters, and other items  needed for approved repairs.

Lancaster/Northumberland Habitat for Humanity - $6,900 to support the final cost of HVAC for House #19 and building services and supplies for construction of House #20 in Northumberland County.

VersAbility Resources - $5,000 to support employment, skill-building, and day support services for Lancaster, Middlesex, and Northumberland residents with disabilities served by the Puller Center.

Legal Aid Works - $2,500 to support the Northern Neck paralegal's travel to Kilmarnock monthly for outreach office hours, reviewing and accepting eligible indigent disabled clients who were denied Social Security Disability benefits to which they are entitled.