Norfolk, VA – July 15, 2025 – The Lawson Family Foundation is pleased to announce a three-year grant awarded to nonprofit partner ForKids to support its Economic Mobility Program for residents of The Retreat at Harbor Pointe.
The program offers one-on-one economic mobility coaching to up to ten households living at The Retreat. Each participant household receives individualized support including monthly coaching sessions focused on financial management, family stability, employment, and overall well-being. Participants are also connected to essential resources and incentives.
In addition, all residents of The Retreat at Harbor Pointe will be informed of ForKids programs including classes on tenancy education, financial literacy, and parenting, as well as access to health and dental clinics to participate in as space allows. Additional community services include résumé and interview preparation, tax preparation assistance, and after school tutoring.
“At the Lawson Family Foundation, we believe housing is the foundation of family stability and education is the key to upward mobility”, said Steve Lawson, Chairman of the Lawson Family Foundation. “These programs have the power to create lasting change by helping individuals acquire knowledge and resources to achieve greater stability and independence. We are proud to support this program and our residents.”
The Retreat at Harbor Pointe is a 246-unit affordable housing community developed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. It serves individuals and families earning at or below 50% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The community features high-end amenities such as a resort-style pool, fitness center, clubhouse, granite countertops, laminate plank flooring, and contemporary finishes.
Located on the historic Elizabeth River, The Retreat has received numerous awards and recognition, including designation as a Model Level River Star Business by the Elizabeth River Project for environmental leadership, participation in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s oyster gardening initiative, and industry recognition from the National Association of Home Builders, Novogradac, CVBIA, and Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate.
About Lawson Family Foundation:
The mission of the Lawson Family Foundation Fund is to engage with effective and compassionate local partners to collectively enable individuals in our communities to flourish, dream, and craft brighter futures for themselves. We believe in the transformative power of education, financial empowerment, health and well-being, and strong social connections to create a brighter future for our residents and the neighborhoods we serve.
The Lawson Family Foundation Fund is administered by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, the region’s largest provider of grants and scholarships.
About Lawson
At Lawson, we understand that what we do – and how we do it – affects the everyday lives of people we care about. We focus on positively impacting people, from team members and residents to investors and business partners. We manage and own approximately 5,000 apartment units and continue to grow with nearly 1,200 units under construction or in development. Our business model provides vertical integration of development, construction, property management and asset management services, which enables our team of experts to add value at every stage for our partners. When you act with integrity, focus on quality and work to find creative solutions, great things are possible. It’s how we’ve done business at Lawson for more than 50 years. For more information, please visit www.lawsoncompanies.com.
About ForKids
ForKids is working to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, and a future where all families have a place to call home. We serve more than 70,000 individuals every year at our two facilities – The Landmark Center in Chesapeake, VA and The Birdsong Center in Suffolk, VA. Learn more at www.ForKids.org.