Habitat for Humanity in Prince William County, under the interim leadership of Steve Liga, is recalibrating its mission to tackle the unique challenges of expensive real estate and a community need for home repairs rather than new builds.
Liga, who stepped in as the interim director, detailed how his experience with other nonprofits led him to this role. He explained his immediate focus on stabilizing the organization's financial footing and reconnecting with the community after a slow period exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
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In 2022, Liga left ACTS in Dumfries after serving as its CEO for seven years.
Press release:
Steve Liga joined Habitat for Humanity Prince William on June 12 as our part-time, Interim CEO. During his tenure, he will be updating our infrastructure, streamlining our operations, improving the profitability of our ReStore (so we can increase the number of our Critical Home Repair projects), completing the renovation of the two houses in our Home Ownership Program and moving families into their new homes, leading our 30th Anniversary Campaign, recruiting for and training our board of directors, and assisting us hire our next full-time CEO. Whew! And did we mention this was a part-time position?
Mr. Liga is the President of Liga Consulting & Training, a company that provides consultation and training based on his extensive skills and expertise in non-profit management, strategic planning, policy and advocacy work, program development, and evaluation. He has over thirty years of experience in the field of social services, twenty-five of which he spent as a CEO of various non-profit organizations. Mr. Liga’s volunteer service has included positions on many nonprofit boards of directors, such as the national Zero Abuse Project, where he is currently Vice Chair.
Mr. Liga’s mission is to help non-profit organizations improve their performance, impact, and sustainability by offering customized solutions and guidance. He specializes in non-profit governance, policy advocacy, storytelling, and board development. He has a proven track record of increasing budgets, launching new programs, and improving efficiencies for his clients and former employers. He has also been a respected resource for media outlets and a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops. He is passionate about improving the health and well-being of the communities he serves, especially the medically underserved, the hungry, and the victims of interpersonal violence.
Working with us at Habitat for Humanity Prince William County is not just another contract for Mr. Liga. His roots with Habitat for Humanity go all the way back to his college days, where he and his wife founded Villanova University’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, which at one point was the largest college-based Habitat chapter in the world!
Greetings, Prince William – StreetLight Community Ministries needs volunteers to provide a nourishing dinner for 30 people each night at the Bill Mehr Drop-In Center, 14716 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge, through March 31. Meals should be prepared at home and provided in disposable aluminum pans or serving trays; drop-off is between 6:15 pm and 7 pm only. Desserts and sides are also appreciated but not required. It’s a fantastic group project, and you’ll feel great knowing you are providing a delicious home-cooked meal for our homeless neighbors! Please visit https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/lowvd4/ to sign up. If you sign up to bring a meal and cannot honor your commitment/make it on time, please email [email protected] or call 571.677.2883.
- Back by popular demand, BEACON is bringing back their Scrabble Scramble Fundraiser on February 24, 5 pm-8 pm! The venue has changed; it’s now at Linton Hall School Gym, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow 20136.  Tickets for a team of 4 are $120 and include two rounds of competitive Scrabble, food, and drinks.  Raffle prizes and 50/50 add to a fun evening for a fantastic cause! Please visit https://bit.ly/3SbALec to purchase tickets, and email [email protected] to learn more.
- You’re under 12 and need to do service hours for school, church, or club, but most agencies want youth volunteers to be at least 12 or older and volunteer with an adult. The wonderful staff at Boxes of Basics has some great ideas on how you can help kids in urgent need of clothing! Help out and feel great as you learn the joy of giving back and making a difference in the lives of kids your age! Please visit www.boxesofbasics.org/young-volunteers for suggestions, email [email protected], or call 571.338.3369 for more information.
- Capital Caring Health is seeking certified dogs (with their owners) to provide friendly visits to their hospice patients and families. Dogs need to be certified by a dog certifying organization and must be current on shots and a dog license. You’ll feel wonderful knowing your pet will bring much love, comfort, and great joy to those facing life-limiting illnesses. Please email [email protected] to learn more.
- Grace United Methodist Church, 9750 Wellington Road, Manassas 20110, is holding its next session of ESL from March 11 to May 22. They need volunteers age 18+ to help as Classroom Aides on Monday and/or Wednesday evenings, 7 pm-9 pm. No experience is necessary, and you’ll enjoy working with students as they improve their English language skills! An orientation/training will be held on March 3 at 12:30 pm, and a light lunch will be provided. Please email [email protected] to learn how you can get involved.
- It may be chilly outside, but Girls on The Run Northern Virginia is already preparing for their Spring season, March 4 to May 19! Girls on the Run is more than a running program; it’s also a positive youth development program that teaches key life skills like confidence and teamwork through various activities. They’re looking for volunteer Coaches to coach teams in greater Prince William County for the session. No running experience is needed; just have a desire to support and encourage the next generation. Must commit to 2-3 hours a week for the season, with a few additional hours required for Coach Training and the GOTR NOVA season-ending 5K celebration. Coaches receive all the tools and support they need and find that they get as much out of coaching as they give. You’ll feel awesome as you help young girls gain confidence in themselves and their abilities! Learn more and apply at https://bit.ly/3tD9md1. Please email [email protected] to learn more.
- The fun folks at Habitat for Humanity-Prince William County are holding a Cleanup at the Hylton Boys & Girls Club, 5070 Dale Boulevard, Woodbridge, on February 17, 9 am-3 pm. Volunteers (including volunteers with muscles) are needed to help trim weeds, tear down a couple of sheds, assemble furniture, and stain benches. It’s a terrific way to spend the Presidents Day weekend and the staff at the Boys & Girls Club will appreciate all your hard work! Please visit www.habitatpwc.org and click on their Volunteer Calendar to sign up; email [email protected] to learn more.
- The Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center in Woodbridge needs volunteers aged 21+ to assist their residents in finding jobs, including jobs that allow for remote work. Meetings would be held with shelter residents at Hilda Barg on any day and time that would fit the volunteer’s schedule. Volunteers must successfully complete a background check; computer and job searching experience is a must. You’ll feel great as you help a resident get back on their feet by helping them find steady employment and become independent again! Please email [email protected] to learn more.
- Attention Theatre Lovers! Prince William Little Theatre needs volunteers to help build sets for their next play, “Stick Fly,” beginning this Saturday, February 3, 10 am-1 pm through March 2. No experience is necessary. It's a fantastic way to get involved with a production; behind-the-scenes work like sets are just as important as the actors themselves! Please email [email protected] for more information.
- Save the Date!  Prince William Trails & Streams Coalition is hosting the Neabsco Boardwalk Cleanup March 2, 9 am-12pm. Two locations will be worked on: Neabsco Regional Park and Neabsco Eagles Park. All ages are welcome and it’s a beautiful chance to get out with the family and beautify these two spots in Prince William County! Please visit https://bit.ly/3U7NlOi for more information and a link to register. Please email [email protected] for more information.
- Saved Hands Foundation is marking its 35th anniversary this year, and they have a busy schedule ahead! If you enjoy event planning, they need your skills to help them prepare for their upcoming Community Health Fair/Backpack Giveaway in August and their Gala to celebrate 35 years in October. Admin skills are a tremendous help, and a desire to connect with the community will do much to make these events successful! Please call Pam at 571.406.5112 or email [email protected] to learn how you can get involved.
- If you enjoy helping in the kitchen, the staff at SERVE wants to meet you! They’re looking for a volunteer Shelter Kitchen Assistant age 18+ to help the shelter cook on weekdays, 11 am-2 pm. Duties include assisting with meal preparation, serving lunch/cleaning up after the meal, maintaining overall cleanliness of the kitchen, including countertops, dishes, etc., and more. You’ll feel good knowing you’re helping to keep daily kitchen operations going smoothly and also serving a nutritious meal to those coping with homelessness! Please visit https://bit.ly/3UpvFxD for details, and email [email protected] for more information.
If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call our wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William at 703.369.5292. You can also visit our website at www.volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.
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“Then it was time to move into the interior. The biggest project would be to blow insulation into the attic, but our volunteers handled this task with the greatest of ease. Dave Williams threw on his suit and got to work in the attic, while Bob Swenson kept the insulation machine fed. These two bring a whole new meaning to teamwork and showing what it takes to get the job done.”
“This concluded our last critical home repair for 2023, and special thanks to our volunteers for stepping in to give us a hand-up for Ms. Howell’s home repair.”
The total repair cost $5,500.
Habitat for Humanity Prince William County: “Habitat for Humanity Prince William County would like to welcome Ms. Sonia Gautam as our new Board Chair for FY24! She has served prior on our Board of Directors as a board member and is now ready to lead us into FY24 with her energy, ideas, and drive.”
“Sonia is a native Nepali and has worked in the Prince William County area formally as a Bank Manager at Truist Bank, and currently serves as a Business Development Officer with FVC Bank. She brings to the board 13 years of experience in the banking and finance industry with cumulative experience in providing financial literacy for clients. She received a BA in Finance from Mountain State University, WV, and a BBS (bachelor’s in business science) in International Finance from St. Xavier’s University from Kathmandu, Nepal. Sonia has developed a strong sense of devotion to the nonprofit sector as a board member and has worked with Habitat to provide financial literacy courses for families in Prince William County. This experience has provided Sonia a deep appreciation for how nonprofits seek to improve the quality of life in our region.”
Habitat for Humanity Prince William County: “The Town of Dumfries presented Habitat for Humanity Prince William County a grant for $5,000 to support our Critical Home Repair Program! These funds were used to assist a community member living in the Town of Dumfries with restoring water use back to their home. Habitat for Humanity was contacted by a Dumfries community member who has lived in their home for 20 years.
“The partner family reported that their sewer line had busted and backed up into the basement of their home. Even worse, our partner family had been without water use in their home for months. With the help from the Town of Dumfries Mayor and City Council, Habitat Prince William was able to repair our partner family’s sewer line, and now our family can now use their water in the comfort of their home! Again, thank you Town of Dumfries for your support of Habitat in providing a hand-up in this project!”
Meanwhile, “In June, Habitat for Humanity Prince William County was selected to be sponsored by the Manassas Rotary’s 29th annual Presidents Golf Tournament. The event took place at Stonewall Golf Course in Gainesville, VA, and over 20 teams competed to raise funds for four Manassas High Schools and Habitat Prince William County! In total, the Manassas Rotary raised $22k for Habitat, which will provide funding to address the affordable housing crises in Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park!”
“There were over 70 players for the golf tournament. Funds raised will be used for critical home repairs for disabled veterans and seniors along with homeownership opportunities in Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park.”
Volunteers gathered in Manassas to help fix up three homes in the Bristoe Station neighborhood on Confederate Trail in Manassas.
Habitat for Humanity Prince William County: "Whiting-Turner Contracting of Herndon VA was on hand to kick-off of our neighborhood revitalization for the Bristoe Station Community! The goal of our revitalization initiative is to address city code violations for families in the community. With 51 homes being impacted, Whiting-Turner was able to sponsor our kickoff by addressing 3 homes that were in need of repairs."
