Lydia's House a community-based organization serves over 1,000 clients annually but year to date has assisted over 2,500 clients and does an incredible job at investing in making lasting change for families living in Bellevue, Congress Heights and Washington Highlands neighborhoods. They take a holistic approach to family development, providing multifaceted services to address the needs of low income, at risk youth and adults. To illustrate, Lydia's House assistance generated over $13.2 Million in first trust loans and over $2.8 Million in down-payment assistance to first time home buyers. There were over 2500 persons enrolled in financial education, first-time-home-buyers orientation and Inclusionary Zoning workshops. Lydia's House strives to provide objective and unbiased information to the public pertaining to housing related issues. Consideration to be among the top-rated non-profits is not only appropriate but warranted.
As a Chairman of the Board of the Far SW/SE Community Development Corporation (CDC), I have collaborated and partnered with Lydia's House in Southeast Washington, DC for nearly twenty (20) years. Our CDC was established in 1998 to address economic development, workforce training and job creation in Ward 8 a community that has access to the least resources, experiencing the lowest income and resource levels in the District of Columbia. The clients that Lydia's House serves formed the population that our CDC was able to assist in developing affordable housing and job preparation skills. Most significantly in 2006 we formed a partnership to develop over 49 units of affordable housing for residents in the communities we both serve. Notwithstanding the recession and other obstacles Trinity Plaza became a reality in 2014 and fully occupied within one month of opening, we continue to provide counseling and financial literacy. I can not stress the dedication, expertise and the follow-through provided by Lydia's House. As a former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development for the District, I know of no other Community-Based Organization as committed to serving low-income communities with excellence.
Lydia's House is at the heart of the DC community. They have helped countless families achieve home ownership and are always finding ways to ensure that their community members have access to holistic services - from housing counseling to debt education to leadership programs - Lydia's House is there to strengthen and grow their neighbors.
Lydia’s House has provided quality housing counseling services to District residents since 1998. Families have moved from homelessness to renters and renters have moved to home owners. We have served over 20,000 residents and are still counting.
I was 18 months past due on my mortgage on my first meeting with the Lydia's House staff in Largo. Over the next six months they help me to complete and receive a loan modification and I am now working on getting my credit score back to respectable level. Thanks for all your effort. I would not have been able to do it without you.
I Have watched Lydia's House grow from a tiny non-profit serving the most vulnerable population, children many of whom were living in unstable homes. Today, Lydia's House is the only Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved faith-based counseling agency in Ward 8, Lydia’s House is making it possible for first time home buyers to purchase property in the Washington metropolitan area. As a District funded full-service housing counseling agency, Lydia’s House provides homeless and homeowner counseling, foreclosure prevention and financial literacy. Today, Lydia's House has expanded its work to work with individuals and families who are struggling with foreclosure issues, helping them to navigate the road to successfully remain secure in homeownership
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Lydia's House is a United Way Organization and a Combined Federal Campaign charity that provides critical support to individuals to increase opportunities for secure housing, access to services and education to increase their financial management skills. The staff works with clients in an caring fashion. It is an honor to serve Lydia's House. I am humbled by their caring, resourcefulness and efficiency.
Wow !!! , I am so glad that Lydia’s House has opened an office in Largo, Maryland to continue providing the great community services on which their reputation has been built. I know the Sheppard’s personally and have seen them go beyond their own means to make sure that our communities are receiving the care and help that it needs and deserves. I recently witnessed a financial literacy class offered to Veterans and walked away with a spirit of hope and optimism for the men and women that have served our country so well. I hope that the Largo operations will grow into a full service office so that the residence of Prince George’s County can see and feel the experiences that others have had over the past twenty years with Lydia’s House.
Have known the Sheppards for 20 plus years. Have had the awesome opportunity to see families grow and benefit not only from the programs Lydias house provides but the mentorship that comes along naturally when investing in a community.
My decision to support Lydias House via Combined Federal Campaign was an easy one!
Lydia's House has been a crucial part of the our community for years. Pastors Eugene and Patrice Sheppard's tireless dedication and unwavering support to this charity ensures that the people who are so often overlooked receive the support that they need in order to succeed.
Lydia's House is dedicated to empowering the community it serves. Pastors Eugene and Patrice Sheppard along with the rest of the LH Team are committed to assisting those who reach out for help to better their lives be it through skill development, financial education, or achieving home ownership. As a member of the community, I've seen the direct effect Lydia's House has made on those who may have felt they had no opportunities or a bright future for themselves nor their families. As a former Board member, I recall the passionate conversations on meeting the needs of the community especially as the city changed due to new laws and programs implemented by the previous and current local government which in some respects, seemingly disregarded the residents East of the River. The outlook and approach was/is "leave no citizen behind" and that's what's needed for a group that the city seems just as well to do so.
More feedbackHow would you describe the help you got from this organization?
A lot
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
Definitely
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Very Well
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
MY ROLE:
Client Served
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Lydia's House is a United Way Organization and a Combined Federal Campaign charity whic conducts their work with clients in an innovative and caring fashion regardless of the reason clients came by the condition they are in
Lydia's House is dedicated to empowering the community it serves. Pastors Eugene and Patrice Sheppard along with the rest of the LH Team are committed to assisting those who reach out for help to better their lives be it through skill development, financial education, or achieving home ownership. As a member of the community, I've seen the direct effect Lydia's House has made on those who may have felt they had no opportunities or a bright future for themselves nor their families. As a former Board member, I recall the passionate conversations on meeting the needs of the community especially as the city changed due to new laws and programs implemented by the previous and current local government which in some respects, seemingly disregarded the residents East of the River. The outlook and approach was/is "leave no citizen behind" and that's what's needed for a group that the city seems just as well to do so.
I am a former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development for Washington DC. I grew up in the very neighborhood Lydia's house services. I was raised by a widowed Mother - who had only an 8th grade education. I have worked with Lydia's House since its inception - helping children doing after school homework, watching them grow into young adults, graduating from High School, going on to college and many graduating. In September 2012, we conducted a pilot program with Ballou Senior High School (March-May) and provided financial education classes after school to 9th and 10th grade girls. This provides an early financial education useful to promoting financial awareness over financial miss-hap. I have seen our people change the patterns of dependency to self-sufficiency.
Lydia's house serves a target population of low to moderate income families and they consistently serve a minimum of 1,000 clients each year.
One story I must relate. I mentored a young 8th grader some years ago in the after school program. He has learning disabilities and some personality challenges. We got him into a very good Charter High School and I worked we worked with him and his school throughout high school. I became close to his parents as did Lydia's House in helping them find housing and employment. He graduated 2 years ago - with honors and is in College. Lydia's House is the best. I will not ever give up being a part of this organization.
One of the single most memorable facts I heard repeatedly while working to help revise the Lydia's House 2012-2015 Strategic Plan was the obvious sentiment of the staff who not only are caring people but they genuinely care about the clients who come to Lydia's House. While their focus is to serve low-income residents, each client regardless of the reason for their circumstance, are made to feel as if they are their only client. A staff of three full-time counselors, it is quite an accomplishment to see staff execute this personal and individualized attention for over 1,000 clients served annually.
I have personally seen the families achieve homeownership and independent living thru the work of Lydia's House. And for more than one family! It is such a joy to see these individuals achieve a goal that most of them never thought possible. Thank you Lydia's House for all you have done!
Lydia's House is the heart beat of our community. They provide human services to families including childrent. The counselors would go above and beyond take every measure to assist everyone who come into contact with this agency. I have had the great pleasure of working with Lydia's House on many community outreach projects and had the great opportunity to use their services at times. I have and will continue to recommend this agency to anyone in need.
Lydia's House is a jewel providing services to families in a significantly challenged section of the Nation's Capitol. This section of the District of Columbia has demographics that reflect severe need for residents living below the poverty level including single family women headed households; children attending under- performing schools, and higher levels of unemployment especially for youth. I am supportive that through its efforts Lydia's house is able to help families find resolution to housing issues with its housing counseling services; children receive tutoring, afterschool and summer learning in a safe, caring and friendly environment; and families are provided financial counseling.