Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
For 15 years, Natasha House in York County has been a place for homeless single moms to heal, grow and eventually thrive. And it’s looking to expand to help more families. Natasha House is not a homeless shelter. The house provides seven private bedrooms for a mother and her children. There is a shared kitchen and sitting area. The mission of the nonprofit organization goes beyond housing — to establishing long-term stability in the lives of mothers and their children. Since 2010, it has housed 260 families and provided outside support services for another 230 families in Hampton Roads. And it’s done so without state or federal funds. “The first thing Natasha House helps is giving them hope,” Natasha House CEO Karen Brown said. The average mother seeking help is in her late 20s, according to the nonprofit. The families can stay for up to two years. Women are taught how to develop and implement a plan for a permanent residence and self-sufficiency. Residents sign a contract to complete the program, which encompasses financial literacy, good nutrition, parenting skills, a career path and even entrepreneurship. The success rate speaks for itself — with 86% of participants remaining permanently housed and 16 women becoming homeowners. Eleven are business owners, Brown said. “We had one mom who came with two bags and two little girls. She left here a homeowner,” Brown said. A computer in each woman’s room allows her to take online classes in the evenings. A career path, not just a job, is emphasized, Brown said. The organization works with Peninsula Workforce Development Center and Virginia Peninsula Community College to help women get education in cybersecurity, health care, business and other high-demand fields. A garden provides fresh vegetables to the house. It is also an education site where women can learn agribusiness through a partnership with Virginia State University. Children are given counseling through the CHAMPS (character, honesty, appreciation, morals, perseverance, service) program, which helps them overcome their trauma and build productive lives, she said. It includes music and art therapy classes. Children are also responsible for maintaining the butterfly garden. The next step is to add more housing to accommodate eight more families. Natasha House is aiming to expand because the waitlist averages about 15 families. The center receives about a dozen calls daily from women seeking help. The nonprofit launched a fundraising campaign, and Brown said the September gala’s proceeds went toward house repairs. Brown knows firsthand about being a homeless mother. After serving nine years in the Air Force, she married and had three children. After 25 years of marriage, her husband abandoned the family in 2008, leaving them homeless. Brown had been involved in establishing the home since 2000 with its visionary founder, the Rev. Deloris L. Borum. Brown was the first program graduate in 2008. She later earned a doctorate in Christian counseling in 2022 and is set to earn another doctorate in Christian education in a few months.
