New Hope Housing Names LaKesha McGuire Employee of the Year

On June 19, 2015, in front of her colleagues and coworkers, LaKesha McGuire was announced as the New Hope Housing Employee of the Year by Executive Director Pamela L. Michell. Ms. McGuire is currently the Office Manager at the administrative office on Richmond Highway and is responsible for onboarding of new employees, planning special events, and chairing the Employee Engagement Committee. What many people do not know is that Ms. McGuire is one of several New Hope Housing employees that were formerly homeless.

Ms. McGuire first came to New Hope Housing seeking shelter for her and her two daughters in 2009. She spent about four months at the Mondloch House Family Shelter on Lockheed Boulevard where she says she became less frustrated about her situation because “New Hope Housing had solutions.” Prior to shelter, she had spent at least two years couch-surfing at friends’ and family apartments before she decided she had to admit she was homeless and take control of her situation. She was working the entire time; however, her salary was high enough to not qualify for many benefits, but too low - combined with poor credit - to be able to rent many apartments in the area.

Ms. McGuire resisted seeking assistance because she was embarrassed to have to admit to being homeless. She felt it would be a stigma that she couldn’t overcome. Moreover, she was afraid to enter shelter because she expected it to be a dark place where she’d only get a cot. Instead, she says she was surprised by how homey it was. There were always volunteers and community folks dropping off food, working with kids, and running special programs. Her daughters felt safe and loved. While there, she enrolled in the Out Of Poverty program, a twelve-week course, which allowed “me to examine my situation and how I could become a manifestation of my best self.”

With the help of New Hope Housing staff, she realized her dream of having a place of her own in 2010 and got married later that year. She began working at New Hope Housing in October 2012. In 2014, Ms. McGuire was the keynote speaker at the Out Of Poverty graduation ceremony where she shared her story of overcoming homelessness.

“LaKesha is full of energy and positivity,” shared Executive Director, Pamela L. Michell. “She puts her whole self into every project she manages and is the smiling face you see when you enter our offices. She is a living example of how a person who experiences homelessness can get assistance and succeed and be a contributor to the community to the betterment of others.”

New Hope Housing employees nominate their coworkers for this award. The executive team selects from among the nominees.

New Hope Housing is an innovative nonprofit agency providing shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, outreach and support services for homeless families and single adults in Fairfax County, City of Alexandria, Arlington County, and City of Falls Church. New Hope Housing is committed to finding creative and lasting solutions to end the cycle of homelessness by offering homeless men, women and children the services they need to change their lives and succeed. For more information, visit www.newhopehousing.org