New Hope Housing
Location: Alexandria and Fairfax County
Executive Director: Pamela L. Michell
Contact info: 703-799-2293 – admin@newhopehousing.org
Annual Budget: $5,900,000
How to get involved: Contact Nicole Dillon to learn about volunteering opportunities at shelters & housing programs or to take a tour: ndillon@newhopehousing.or
New Hope Housing provides homeless families and individuals shelter, housing, and the tools to build a better life. It operates shelters and housing programs that serve more than 350 people each day in Alexandria, Fairfax County, Falls Church, and Arlington. Last year, more than 400 people moved from homelessness to housing through one or more of its programs.
Northern Virginia Family Service
Location:
Multiple all over Northern Virginia; Headquarters – Oakton .
Executive Director: Stephanie Berkowitz (CEO/President)
Contact info: 10455 White Granite Drive, Suite 100, Oakton, VA 22124, 571-748-2500, info@nvfs.org
Annual Budget: $33.35 million
How to get involved:
Volunteer: NVFS is committed to engaging volunteers in meaningful opportunities that encourage innovative ideas, unique perspectives and specialized expertise. Visit nvfs.org/volunteernow to search for current opportunities and greatest needs.
Shop bargains that benefit NVFS: When you shop at our Centreville, Falls Church or Manassas Thrift Shops, all proceeds benefit NVFS. Donations of gently used clothing and household items are welcome at any of these locations. For hours and directions to its Thrift Shops, visit nvfs.org/thriftshops.
Become a foster parent: Many children in the community need a loving, safe home. NVFS’s experienced caseworkers carefully match each child to a trained foster family to ensure each child reaches his/her full potential. Learn more at nvfs.org/fostercare.
Through its comprehensive, holistic approach to services, Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) helps more than 34,000 individuals and their families each year find housing and emergency services; health and mental health services; early childhood education and child placement services; intervention and prevention programs; job training; and legal services. More than half of NVFS clients live below the national poverty level ($24,260 annual salary for a family of four). NVFS’s needs vary greatly, depending on programs and locations. Visit nvfs.org to learn more about the organization, as well as nvfs.org/wishlist for a full list of donation requests.
Homestretch, Inc. Location – Fairfax County
Executive Director – Christopher Fay
Contact info – Christopher Fay, direct 703-992-9584, email cfay@homestretchva.org
Annual Budget - $2.5M
How to get involved – Visit Homestretch’s website or call 703-237-2035 to become involved. Homestretch has a vast number of volunteer opportunities.
The mission of Homestretch is to empower homeless families to secure permanent housing and to attain the skills, knowledge and hope to achieve lasting self-sufficiency. Homestretch provides an intensive array of services designed to provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to helping homeless parents with children to undertake the process of securing housing, increasing income, reducing debt, acquiring skills, building savings, enrolling in and completing education, and restoring health. Homestretch has earned many awards and regularly produces outcomes that lead the nation in terms of families’ ability to escape homelessness forever.
Shelter House
Location - Serves all of Fairfax County
Executive Director & CEO - Joe Meyer
Contact info - (703) 935-1542 / Joe.Meyer@shelterhouse.org
Annual Budget - $5.6 million
How to get involved - Individuals or groups can donate time, items and/or money. visit shelterhouse.org for more information
Shelter House is a private non-profit organization serving homeless families and victims of domestic violence. Currently, Shelter House operates two family shelters and the only 24/7 crisis shelter for victims of domestic violence. Most of Shelter House's work is done "outside" of the shelter where it provides financial support and services to families leaving the shelter and sometimes preventing families who are at-risk of becoming homeless. Its current needs that support the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness — willing landlords to rent to homeless families. Also, household items that will furnish homes for families ending their homelessness after leaving our shelters.
Alternative House - Abused and Homeless Children's Refuge
Location: Northern Virginia
Executive Director: Judith Dittman
Contact info: 703-506-9191
Hotline on runaway/homeless youth: Call 1-800-SAY-TEEN or text TEENHELP to 855-11.
www.thealternativehouse.org
Annual Budget: $3.3 million
How to get involved: Alternative House relies heavily on donations and volunteer support to meet the critical needs of at-risk children, youth and families. You can make a monetary contribution, volunteer, or donate goods or services. You are strongly encouraged to attend an Open Door Information Session held the second Tuesday of each month at our Emergency Teen Shelter in Vienna. Learn more on its website, www.thealternativehouse.org.
Alternative House's vision is of a community in which all young people are safe, live in a nurturing environment and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Founded in 1972, Alternative House transforms the lives of children and youth, helping them stay safe, make positive decisions, achieve educational success, and overcome personal crises. It offers children, youth and families hope for brighter futures by providing counseling, shelter and neighborhood-based support. Its hotline served 2,000 callers last year, and its emergency shelter housed nearly 200 youth in crisis. Alternative House always welcome the support of our community.
Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services, Inc.
Location: Alexandria
Executive Director: David Levine
Contact info: info@goodhousing.org
Annual Budget: $2.2 million
How to get involved: Visit www.goodhousing.org/volunteer and sign up.
For more than 40 years, GSH has helped end homelessness and enable self-sufficiency by providing affordable housing and emergency financial services to working-class families and individuals in Fairfax County. Last year alone GSH helped more than 1,000 households who were unstably housed or were, in fact, experiencing an episode of homelessness. Learn more by visiting GSH’s website www.goodhousing.org
FACETS
Location – Main office located at - 10640 Page Avenue, Suite 300 Fairfax VA 22030
Executive Director – Margi Preston
Contact info – 703-352-5090/www.FACETSCares.org
Annual Budget – $3,300,466
How to get involved: Every other month FACETS offers an information session and tour to individuals interested in learning more about our impact in the community. Upcoming sessions take place on the first Tuesday of each month to include – Oct. 4, Dec. 6, Feb. 7, April 4 and June 6. Monthly volunteer orientations are also held at FACETS’ main office. For more information and to RSVP, visit www.FACETSCares.org or contact Josh D’Antonio at JDantonio@FACETSCares.org.
FACETS works to prevent and end homelessness in Fairfax County by offering a variety of services and supports for people who are homeless, unstably housed, or experiencing poverty. In 1988, FACETS began as a hot meals program, serving nutritious food to people who were homeless in Fairfax County. Since then, FACETS has evolved to meet the changing needs of the community. Today, FACETS serves over 2,000 people, with programs that help families and individuals break the cycle of poverty. Its team provides intensive case management services to help its client’s gain life skills to enable them to enjoy a more stable future.
Many volunteers opportunities exist with FACETS, including helping families at an emergency shelter in Alexandria. Here FACETS volunteers work at the front desk and pantry, assist with childcare, and provide a transportation support for program participants enrolled in FACETS’ employment readiness program. In addition, as it gear up for the holiday season, FACETS relies on volunteers to provide neighbors in need with positive holiday memories. Individuals can support this effort by volunteering at a holiday party, or donating Thanksgiving Baskets or holiday gifts. For details on volunteer and in-kind opportunities, visit www.FACETSCares.org or contact FACETS’ Volunteer and Events Manager, D’Ivonne Holman at DHolman@FACETSCares.org or 703-865-4251.
Cornerstones `
Location: Fairfax County (Reston/Herndon)
Executive Director: Kerrie Wilson
Contact info: volunteer@cornerstonesva.org
Annual Budget: $9.5 million
How to get involved: www.cornerstonesva.org/volunteer
Cornerstones (formerly Reston Interfaith) exists so that individuals and families in the Dulles corridor who are homeless, living in poverty or facing other needs can access resources that offer stability, empowerment and hope for healthy and connected lives. Founded in 1970, Cornerstones serves approximately 15,000 individuals and families each year who are unable to meet basic expenses in our high cost-of-living area. Through advocacy and support services, Cornerstones connects clients to vital resources that help them build more stable and self-sufficient lives. Cornerstones provides a comprehensive array of programs to help area residents solve urgent or ongoing needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, food and financial assistance, job readiness and other needs. Its affiliate organization, Cornerstones Housing Corporation, owns and manages 100-plus homes that offer affordable housing with supportive services for individuals and families from Cornerstones’ programs.
United Community Ministries (UCM)
Location: Serving Region 1 Fairfax County, its main office is: 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria VA 22306
Executive Director: Nichelle A. Mitchem
Contact info: phone 703.768.7106, email info@ucmagency.org
Annual Budget: $4.4 million
How to get involved: UCM is truly a network of connection and engaged individuals, supporting each other, helping neighbors in need, to create a successful Mount Vernon community. Community support to donate, volunteer, and advocate is needed and deeply appreciated. Visit www.ucmagency.org to learn how you can help.
United Community Ministries (UCM) mobilizes the power of community to equip, educate, and empower people to measurably improve their lives. For more than 46 years, UCM has provided a vital connection between people in need and the people committed to helping them thrive. Services include:
Immediate Help. For families and individuals in crisis, UCM provides counseling, food, financial aid, and referrals to other resources. UCM’s goal is to help people avoid eviction and the downward spiral of homelessness.
Children’s Programs. UCM provides the next generation with essential education and enriching experiences, including full-day early care and learning, new parent education, and after-school programs for youth leadership development and computer access.
Adult Education. UCM helps immigrant adults integrate into the community and contribute to and share in its economic growth through financial literacy, English as a Second Language (ESL) and citizenship classes.
In Fiscal Year 2015, thanks to generous community support, UCM provided life-changing assistance to 10,200 individuals in 4,000 families in the Alexandria portion of Fairfax County. This included 5,000 children — more than any other private nonprofit agency in the Huntington-Mount Vernon area.
Our transitional housing programs are currently winding down with funding changes, so our focus is on preventing homelessness for individuals and families who are struggling and on the brink of eviction.