Better Housing Brings Hope To ThoseIn Need (NAPSA)—Anational charity is creating housing for low-income families across the United States—many of whom are immigrants who came to America in search of a newlife. Sharif-Ali Hashim, a former English teacher from Mogadishu, Somalia, is one of many immigrants who have found a home at Volunteers of America’s Capital Park Apartment complex in Columbus, Ohio, that provides 316 units of high quality, affordable housing for low-income families. Hashim, an employment specialist at the Community Refugee and Immigration Services, came to the United States with his family in 1996, and moved to Columbus, Ohio—home to the second largest Somali community in the United States—a few yearslater. “Capital Park is a beautiful place to live,” Hashim said. “I really like the atmosphere.” Volunteers of America recently renovated the Capital Park Apartment complex to provide residents with needed upgrades to the interior and exterior of the complex. The $4.5 million renovation process was funded by a variety of government sources, including HUD. The Capital Park Apartment complex is one of many housing facilities owned and operated by Volunteers of America. Nationally, Volunteers of America owns and operates more than 200 affordable housing communities in 31 states that are home to more than 20,000 people, and is in the process of acquiring, building and renovating more properties to Volunteers y ofAmerica There arenolimits tocaring. mally Bea Sharif-Ali Hashim is one of many immigrants who have found a homeat Volunteers of America’s Capital Park Apartment complex in Columbus, Ohio. address the critical need for affordable housing for low-income families across the United States. “Volunteers of America is proud of its efforts to provide low-income families in Columbus and around the country with a decent and affordable place to live,” Volunteers of America National President Charles Gould said. “But clearly more needs to be done. The growing gap between the number of affordable housing units and the number of people needing them is a crisis that needs to be addressed, and Volunteers of America will continue its efforts to provide affordable housing to those in need.” “We need more apartmentslike this one,” Hashim said. “As an elder, I talk with the Somali community and they talk about the need for cheaper and affordable housing.” For more information about Volunteers of America, please visit www.VolunteersofAmerica.org.
