CORE Posters Fall 2025

Increasing Community Awareness and Identifying Barriers to Housing Using the VCOM New River Valley Community Action (NRCA) Strides for Shelter 5K Morgan Hadank, Hesam Hamrahian, Shay Musa, Mark Patz, Brenden Shrader, Hannah Smith, Jessica Nicholson, MAT, Bernard Kadio MD, MPH, PhD Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM-VA), Preventative Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia.

Group U

Abstract

Results

Conclusions

Community Awareness- Strides for Shelter 5K On race day, 40 runners participated in the Strides for Shelter 5K. Each runner signed in before the start, received a bib number, and was welcomed by our community partner, who expressed deep gratitude for their support. After the race, the top four finishers were recognized. The event concluded with the presentation of a large check for $1,140 , raised through registration fees and donations, to our CBO, Ms. Leigh-Anne Hall, on behalf of New River Valley Community Action.

Objectives & Statement of the Problem Housing insecurity is a growing public health concern in Southwest Virginia. High housing costs, poor credit history, and debt burden contribute to financial strain and instability, directly impacting health outcomes. Despite the importance of these issues, community-level data remain limited. Identifying local housing barriers is essential to guide targeted prevention efforts and inform policy solutions. In partnership with NRCA, our group established two primary goals: (1) raise funds to support NRCA, and (2) collect data to better understand housing barriers in the region. To accomplish these goals, we hosted the Strides for Shelter 5K at VCOM, which included a suggested donation to NRCA, and distributed a housing survey to participants. The survey was also shared at additional NRCA-hosted community events to capture broader input. The New River Valley is composed of five localities, those being Mongomery, Floyd, Pulaski, Giles and The City of Radford. The cost and availability of housing has become a major problems of these municipalities for low-income individuals. It's estimated that the NRV needs to create 5,500 low-income households to assist individuals who currently spend more than 50% of their income on housing. 1 This study investigated main barriers to housing insecurity, such as high costs and limited availability. In effort to implement change into the community we teamed up with the NRCAand organized a 5K to raise awareness and funds for the NRCA. Survey For the survey we adapted the National Housing Survey Questionnaire 2 to create a survey focused on housing in the New River Valley. To build context, we attended Renters Education workshops, gaining insight into local housing challenges. A cross-sectional study was then conducted at a community awareness event, where attendees were invited to complete the survey. All responses were anonymous, and consent was obtained from participants. Introduction or Methods Community Awareness- Strides for Shelter 5K Phase 1: Planning and Permits- The 5K route was designed using mapmyrun.com. Town approval and a special event permit was secured through the Blacksburg Community Relations Office. Permission from law enforcement, Brian Williams, to chalk the roads was obtained. General liability insurance was secured through Eventsured. Phase 2: Logistics and Promotion- Sign up registration and donations were done through Google docs and tracked via a spreadsheet. A flyer was used for race promotion which was distributed across social media, VT campus groups, and local businesses.

Policy : Our results show that high rent and home prices are a major barrier across all age groups, especially for young adults. One possible step to help ease this burden in Virginia would be to cap the amount landlords can charge for security deposits. This type of policy could reduce the upfront costs of renting and make housing more accessible for many residents. Additionally, our findings on the lack of housing availability reflect concerns shared by NRCA. A key issue is limited landlord participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP). Although the program offers incentives such as guaranteed rent payments and minimal paperwork, many property owners remain hesitant to take part. This reluctance limits the housing supply available to low-income families, suggesting a need for greater landlord engagement to expand access. Community : One step toward addressing the lack of affordable housing in the New River Valley is raising awareness within the community. The Strides for Shelter 5K was designed not only to raise funds but also to educate participants and community members about the challenges of housing insecurity. By engaging runners, local businesses, and campus groups, the event helped spark conversation and encourage action around this critical issue.

Survey Results:

A majority of younger respondents (ages 18 – 34) reported high rent and home prices as a significant barrier, with the proportion declining in older age groups. This suggests that housing affordability challenges are most acute among younger adults. Employment status also influenced reported barriers: individuals employed full-time most frequently cited a lack of housing availability, while those not currently in a paying job reported this barrier at much lower rates. These findings highlight that both age and employment status are key factors shaping perceptions of housing insecurity in Southwest Virginia.

Programs : The NRCA offers three programs to assist with housing in the NRV, those including To Our House, Housing Counseling, and Housing Connections.

Future Plans: We aim to expand both the Strides for Shelter 5k and the study to capture a broader, more representative demographic, since our current sample included a high proportion of students. By institutionalizing the 5k as an annual event, future students can continue building on this research while growing the race, raising awareness, and generating sustainable funding for the NRCA to strengthen efforts to reduce housing barriers in our community.

In the left image, our group presented Ms. Hall with a check for $1,140. The right image displays the flyer created to promote our 5K.

References

Phase 3: Race Day- Volunteers were briefed for coordinating the race and an announcement was made for the purpose and importance of NRVC. A pamphlet was handed out at the race that included information on the cost of housing and the need for housing in the NRV.

Acknowledgements

1.Virginia Center for Housing Research; Housing Forward Virginia; New River Valley Regional Commission. (2021). The regional + local NRV housing study – Detailed report . New River Valley Region. 2.Fannie Mae. (2023). National Housing Survey questionnaire, 2023 (online). PSB Insights; NORC at the University of Chicago. Retrieved from https://www.fanniemae.com/media/35926/display

We thank New River Community Action, especially Ms. Leigh-Anne Hall, for their partnership in organizing the Strides for Shelter 5K and supporting survey distribution. Their collaboration was essential in engaging the community and advancing our mission to address housing insecurity in the New River Valley.

Refer to the attached QR code to access our group’s pamphlet distributed at the 5K.