For Linda and Ned Popovich, hosting guests at their vacation rental in Hampton Roads is a labor of love. It has allowed them the opportunity to offer a haven for people living with developmental and sensory disabilities and PTSD — a mission that is just as important to their business as income.
Linda and Ned’s journey to short-term rentals started on a whim. They were vacationing in Hampton Roads in Southeast Virginia when they happened upon a house for sale. They took a tour and both felt immediately that they had found their dream retirement home, a 5,400-square-foot property minutes from the beach with a creek running through the back yard.
“We looked at each other and just said, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ Then Ned said to me, ‘Go home and start packing,’” Linda said.
When Linda and Ned saw the 2,700-foot lower level of this home, their first thought was, “This has to be used for some larger purpose.” They decided to make it a vacation rental to finance such an effort. They had also always wanted a place that was big enough for family and friends to visit comfortably.
Their dreams came true. Within five months, they had moved from Northern Virginia and were living their dream at their newly named home Casa de Grandview. Its homey, welcoming atmosphere began hosting family, friends and vacation rental guests to relax, recharge, and reconnect with each other and with the natural splendor surrounding the home.
Lending a helping hand
Having a vacation rental also gave them the opportunity to honor what they felt was a God-given calling to help others. Both Linda and Ned are military veterans and have known people on the autism spectrum, and they wanted to create a safe space where individuals with PTSD and developmental and sensory challenges could rest and heal — at no charge.
It’s estimated that more than 3.5 million people are living with an autism spectrum disorder, and the number is growing. Many cannot stay in a hotel because they experience sensory overstimulation.
Among military personnel, between 11% and 30% of veterans serving in Vietnam and later wars have suffered from PTSD.
Hosts can appeal to these underserved groups by providing safe, calming spaces — which can also serve many different types of guests.
To make her property friendly for people with developmental and sensory challenges, Linda set out to create a soft, homey atmosphere. She decorated with a neutral color scheme and comfortable furniture, avoiding hard edges or high-impact surfaces such as chrome or glass. Guests can also request a sensory swing, a net that can be used as a chair or hammock that acts as a calming environment. The rental is wheelchair-friendly, with a lift, wide doorways, and soon, a ramp. Pets are welcome.
In response to the pandemic, she also makes sure her property follows the latest CDC guidelines, and her housekeeping crew takes additional precautions with every clean. She also provides ways for guests to protect themselves and others, including gloves and sanitizing wipes.
Respite in action
Linda had the chance to see if she got the space right in a very personal way. The 22-year-old son of a family friend who is on the spectrum cannot sleep in hotels because the environment is overstimulating to him — he calls them “helltels.” Because of this, he was prepared to sleep in the car when he visited Casa de Grandview. But the calming atmosphere and sensory swing enabled him to relax and enjoy his stay. Linda said she was overjoyed when he hugged her and said he would come back to stay again in the future.
The natural world surrounding Casa de Grandview can also help guests recharge. One guest, an active-duty soldier in between posts, was recovering from an abusive situation and had few housing options because she had two dogs. Linda and Ned offered her a 10-day stay. She told them that her stay there allowed her to relax, meditate, enjoy nature, and begin her healing process.
Note left in the Casa de Grandview guest book from the soldier:
Bad things happen to good people, but during those times, God puts people in their path to help or distract. During my troubled time, God put you in my life to aid me through a transition, to close a chapter.
Your space provided a peaceful stage for meditation, to connect with nature, and to rest.
God has given me a “powerful story to share with the world”–and I’m grateful that he provided a safe haven–“Casa de Grandview,” a place to rest your head and renew your spirit.
As my new chapter starts, I will bring your act of kindness with me and repay the favor.
Thank you for opening up your home to me [and my dogs]
[Name removed for privacy]
Hebrews 11
Jeremiah 29:11
“It was a respite for her in a stressful time,” Linda said.
More than a vacation
Linda and Ned are working to arrange further retreats for military personnel. It’s these positive interactions that keeps Linda confident and optimistic, even with the challenges of Covid-19.
For Linda, Casa de Grandview is not for profit. It’s a personal responsibility to provide an environment where guests can experience joy and regeneration. She feels that she has created something that honors her faith and pays her blessings forward.
“Those who are entrusted with great resources have a choice: They can either keep them to themselves or they can share it with others. We have been given this amazing home. How can we not share it with others?” Linda said.
Read more: 8 ways to make your vacation rental more accessible for $100 or less.
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