VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - New data from the Samaritan House recently highlighted an increased need for help for domestic violence victims in our community.
Leaders with Samaritan House report that from March 1 to May 1, there has been a 166 percent increase in the number of victims being put into hotels. They said there has been an overall increase in people needing shelter by almost 80 percent.
Other places that help victims across the country have reported an increased number of calls and need for services in certain cities.
When employees at Drucker + Falk, a multifamily management and real estate company, heard about victims' need for help, they took action, creating the campaign “Multifamily Snowball For Good” and challenging other multifamily management groups to donate.
When their friends and competitors over at The Franklin Johnston Group, a developer and multifamily management group, heard about the challenge, they were the first to join in.
So far, the effort has raised over $60,000 from groups all over the region in the past three weeks.
Wendy Drucker, managing director for Drucker + Falk, said, “It’s really a special cause when employees, partners, and competitors alike come together for the greater good of their communities. The idea of providing shelter and housing is something that is very important to us in the multifamily industry and we are honored to play a small part in helping during this unprecedented time."
The Franklin Johnston Group Vice President of Marketing Angie Lombardi said she is passionate about multifamily communities and was thrilled to be part of this fundraiser.
“We have communities, they’re not just apartment complexes, they are communities where people make friends and their children play together and that’s what we want to build,” Lombardi said.
“A snowball starts out little and it gets bigger and bigger and bigger. That’s what we’re doing. We are collaborating together to help so many people and it just feels so good,” Drucker said. “We manage those safe and secure places that people come home to, or right now, people are staying in because they can’t leave.”
“We’re all after the goal of having people have safe places that are comfortable to go home to. We were very honored to be a part of it,” Lombardi said.
Drucker + Falk said they have pledged a total of $30,000 in donations to regionally selected nonprofits, with a $5,000 donation in Hampton Roads serving as the kickoff.
The following organizations have donated: The Franklin Johnston Group, The Lawson Companies, The Breeden Company, Palms Associates, Knock Rentals and RentPath Network.
They said if you would like to contribute locally in Hampton Roads to the “Multifamily Snowball For Good,” please make your online donation directly to Samaritan House and Transitions Family Violence Services. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #MFSnowballForGood #MultifamilyGivesBack and #MFCommunitySupport on social media.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assault or stalking, there is help. Please call the 24-hour Samaritan House crisis hotline at 757-430-2120 or Transitions Family Violence crisis hotline at 757-723-7774.
