Expanding our reach, deepening our impact
Victory Programs is proud to announce the launch of our Community-Based Housing Division, a new initiative designed to increase access to safe, stable, and affordable housing for individuals and families facing complex challenges—whether they’re living with HIV, experiencing homelessness, or transitioning from recovery.
“Within a very short period of time, Victory took on multiple contracts and programs offering rental assistance, rapid re-housing, housing search, and stabilization services,” explains Kristen Lascoe, Division Director. “The Community-Based Housing Division was created to bring these programs together under one umbrella, increasing our capacity to serve more people while sharing resources and strengthening the broader service system.”
The division is made up of three core programs:
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- Paths to Victory assists individuals and families experiencing homelessness by connecting them with stable housing and supportive services.
- Keys to Home offers targeted housing search and stabilization support for low-income individuals living with HIV or in a household with a person living with HIV.
- The Rental Assistance Program (RAP) provides short-term emergency rental and utility assistance for individuals and families facing eviction, unaffordable housing, move-in costs, or utility crises.
Meeting Challenges with Advocacy and Heart
Clients in the Community-Based Housing Division face steep barriers: unaffordable rents, past involvement with the justice system, and immigration-related challenges. But our team is built to respond.
“Our case managers become the client’s strongest advocate,” says Francisco Rivera, Program Director of Keys to Home. “They write letters, make phone calls, appeal to higher authorities—whatever it takes to help people access the tools they need to build a stable life.”
Bella’Bianca Austin, who leads the Rental Assistance Program, agrees: “We make sure case managers and advocates are equipped with the tools and resources they need to keep people housed.”
For Esther Briddell, who directs Paths to Victory, advocacy means consistent support. “We meet with clients weekly—sometimes twice a week—to help them get to appointments, get groceries, or apply for whatever documentation they need. We stay with them every step of the way.”
Making a Difference — One Home at a Time
Already, the impact is real:
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- Keys to Home has housed five clients through persistent advocacy.
- RAP has stabilized housing or utility services for more than 100 households.
- Paths to Victory recently housed three individuals, all of whom are now working toward legal documentation and long-term goals.
“This is what excites me most,” says Francisco. “Helping people through a housing system that’s riddled with barriers and inaccessibility—and watching them succeed.”
A Stronger Future, Together
As the division grows, Kristen hopes to integrate housing support throughout Victory Programs’ recovery and prevention services: “The need for housing resources is everywhere, and we’re uniquely positioned to deliver. Housing stability isn’t just a service—it’s a foundation for everything else.”
“Housing stability is a key factor in overall life stability,” Kristen says. “When someone has a safe place to call home, everything else—health, employment, relationships—has the chance to grow.”