Helen Zurita has helped many residents of East End Mobile Home Park in Manassas keep their homes.
A few years ago, the City of Manassas was planning to flat land the property, which required a sewer system, a stormwater management system, and a new water system.
Zurita advocated for the mobile home park that was later purchased by Catholics for Housing (CFH), a non-profit that seeks to provide shelter to low-income Northern Virginia residents
Her assistance and her efforts in feeding the needy were honored by CFH on Saturday.
She received the Father Gerald Creedon Housing Award, the organization’s top recognition. It’s named after Gerry Creedon, who founded the housing provider in the 1970s.
“It was an extraordinary honor to receive that award, because Father Creedon – he put so much out there for people to do.”
The award was presented by Former CFH Vice President Charlie Einsmann, who felt a special connection to the recognition.
Creedon introduced Einsmann to the non-profit and supported him when he was considering purchasing the East End Mobile Home Park.
“With his support, I got the rest of the board members to agree … With Helen getting the award and me presenting it, it just came full circle,” Einsmann said. “That was kind of nice.”
In 2018, Zurita was recognized by State Senator Jeremy McPike and Delegate Lee Carter, who presented a resolution that commended her.
