Norfolk, VA – April 3, 2026 – Students and their families from Norfolk Public Schools recently visited Market Heights Apartments as part of the school division’s annual services expo bus tour, connecting young adults with disabilities to resources that support independent living after graduation. 

Key Highlights: 

Located in Norfolk’s St. Paul’s District, Market Heights Apartments is a 164-unit affordable housing community developed and managed by Lawson. The community includes accessible apartments and a unique partnership with Hope House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides wraparound services for individuals with disabilities. 

Through this partnership, residents who may otherwise face barriers to living independently have access to on-site support tailored to their individual needs. 

“This was a meaningful opportunity to welcome students and families into Market Heights and show what independent living can look like with the right support systems in place,” said Austin Pittman, Vice President of Development for Lawson. “Our partnership with Hope House Foundation allows us to go beyond housing by providing services that empower residents to live with greater independence and confidence.” 

The Norfolk Public Schools tour is designed to help students and their families explore options for housing, employment, and community involvement after graduation. For many attendees, the visit to Market Heights offered a tangible vision of what the next chapter could look like. 

“We are incredibly grateful for partners like Lawson who are committed to creating inclusive housing opportunities,” said Susan Henderson, Associate Executive Director of Hope House Foundation. “By combining affordable housing with on-site supportive services, we’re helping individuals build the skills and confidence they need to live independently and thrive in the community.” 

In addition to accessible housing, the partnership ensures that residents have assistance with essential life skills, such as budgeting, transportation, healthcare coordination, and daily living activities. 

Lawson’s involvement in the tour reflects its broader commitment to creating housing solutions that serve diverse community needs. 

“Experiences like this tour are critical in helping students and families understand what’s possible after graduation,” said Sarah Bernier, Lawson Vice President and Director of Property Operations. “Seeing a community like Market Heights firsthand, and meeting the partners who provide support, helps make the transition to independent living feel achievable.” 

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 HOPE HOUSE FOUNDATION 

Hope House Foundation provides supports to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities exclusively in their own homes or apartments, regardless of how complex their disabilities may be. The foundation supports more than 120 people in Hampton Roads and believes in enabling everyone with a life of choice rather than circumstance. For more information, please visit www.hope-house.org.  

ABOUT NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS  

Norfolk Public Schools serves approximately 26,000 students and provides innovative programs that prepare students for college, career, and independent living.  

The Post Graduate Career Development Program (PGCDP) provides transition services that help students with disabilities successfully move from high school into adult life. The program focuses on developing employment skills, independent living abilities, and community participation through real-world experiences, community partnerships, and connections to adult service agencies. Its goal is to prepare students to live, work, and function as independently as possible in their communities.