Grantee Highlight: Menchville House – From Hurt to Hope

A resident enjoying children-focused activities at Menchville House

Menchville House is more than a shelter; it’s a launchpad from hurt to hope on the Virginia Peninsula. Since opening its doors in 2001, Menchville House has been dedicated to helping homeless families not just survive, but return to sustainable self-sufficiency. What began as the vision of three determined women in 1998, driven by the concept of healing hurting women and children, quickly became a robust community effort. Local residents pitched in to remodel an apartment building, establish a volunteer program, and lay the groundwork for a successful model of change.

A Mission of Sustainable Independence
Today, Menchville House provides a temporary home and supportive services for up to 62 persons, currently 16 families with 30 children. While their mission initially served women and children, they now shelter any family facing homelessness, including single fathers, intact families, and multi-generational families, all working toward the goal of sustainable independence. Families are invited to partner with Menchville House ​in a shared commitment to transformation

Emergency updates being made to the 100-year-old plumbing with funding from Menchville House’s PCF Agency Fund

 through growth, healing and long-term stability by:

• Working toward personal wellness and stabilization goals.
• Engaging in vocational counseling, job readiness and other skill-building opportunities.
• Accessing and participating in supportive services and promote independence. 
• Respecting community living guidelines and contributing positively to the shared environment.

​Transformation in Action
This commitment to change transforms the lives of local families. Consider the mother of three—two with autism, and the mother herself disabled—who faced eviction. She called the housing crisis hotline—a program in which PCF was involved, with 40 nonprofit agency partners that now serves all 14 of Hampton Roads’ jurisdictions—and was placed at Menchville House. For the first time in months, the children had a secure roof over their heads, their own beds, regular healthy meals, enrollment in school, and access to Menchville’s children-focused activities. Today, that family is thriving in permanent, income-based housing.

Partners in Sustainability: PCF and Menchville House

At Menchville House, love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a meal shared, a bed offered, a hand held.

Being a legacy participant in Give Local 757  - which means they have been part of that program since it began - has opened a "whole new world for our fundraising,”  says the program’s coordinator at Menchville House, Spencer Finchette​, adding, “the giving day provides us greater exposure and awareness with audiences we would never be able to reach on our own.” Menchville House has raised over $75,000 through their participation. A key to the organization's financial health and future planning came when a generous donor opened an endowed agency fund for Menchville House at PCF in 2016. ​

This gift will continue to grow to provide a sustainable source of funding for years to come. 
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That investment recently proved invaluable when the organization faced a severe financial crisis, due in part to extensive and costly plumbing repairs caused by deteriorating pipes throughout the facility. Executive Director Ann Ruffin shared, "Our fund had grown considerably over nine years, allowing us to quickly access the resources we needed to keep Menchville House operational. “ Adding, “without the ability to draw on our Peninsula Community Foundation fund, we likely would’ve had to suspend services or relocate families but instead we were able to sustain operations, maintain staff and continue providing uninterrupted shelter for families depending on us.” 
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They are currently facing another major plumbing crisis, with 7 of their rooms temporarily offline as they work toward full restoration. Ann states, “PCF has truly been a lifeline with their partnership giving us the ability to respond to emergencies, ensuring Menchville House remains a place of safety and hope for families when they need it most.” ​

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