Harrisburg Realtor® Receives NAR Grant for Organization Fighting Homelessness

Ted Biedrzycki, co-president of Off The Streets, was one of five Realtors® selected for the National Association of Realtors®’ 16th annual Volunteering Works grants and mentoring program, receiving a $1,000 seed grant and a year of one-on-one mentoring from a member of the Good Neighbor Society. 

“At Off The Streets, we provide housing for homeless individuals by using community resources, donations and volunteer efforts,” Biedrzycki shares. “In just two years, our organization has helped over 400 individuals find stable living environments by partnering with local groups and creating innovative programs.” 

Biedrzycki, a member of the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors®, adds, “We strive to create lasting change and empower our community to overcome homelessness. Many of the people we help would remain homeless if we didn’t provide their security deposit.” 

In addition to supplying security deposits, Off The Streets helps homeless individuals by delivering donated furniture and household goods and providing other encouragement and support to those trying to get off the streets. Since its founding, the organization has taken over 10,000 people off the streets across 10 local chapters in Connecticut, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. 

“I think it’s important for Realtors® to get involved with our communities, because they make us what we are,” Biedrzycki says. “Our mission as Realtors® is to provide housing to those in our area. There are other agencies that help our communities, but organizations with missions like Off The Streets’ align exactly with the mission of a Realtor® – to provide the basic need for shelter.”