Affordable Housing Awareness Week 2012

This week long event not only works to raise awareness about the need for safe affordable housing, but also provides volunteer opportunities for people to help out one of the many non-profit housing organizations in Richmond.  For the last several years, I have been lucky enough to go around and document the participation of the many student, corporate and community leaders who involve themselves in AHAW.  Part of the event is Walking in Their Shoes were community leaders spend a day on the streets of Richmond navigating the challenges faced by the homeless in the area.  A few of the images from the week are below.

Capitol One employees helping clean out a unit at one of Virginia Supportive Housing's SRO facilities.

Kit Simmons, DJ with Lite 98 with one of the thankful residents of Virginia Supportive Housing's SRO

VCU students painting a fence at a Fan Distract building owned by Better Housing Coalition

Volunteers from Franklin Federal Savings Bank and the Richmond Realtors Assoc. replanting and repairing a garden at BHC's Winchester Green apartment complex.

The best example of using the Tom Sawyer approach of painting a fence to good advantage, at Winchester Green

Wells Fargo employees helping paint an apartment for Virginia Supportive Housing.

Two of the community leaders taking part in Walking in Their Shoes, on the street.

Several of the Walking in Their Shoes participants talking with others waiting for lunch at St. Paul's Church.