City Of Alexandria Awards Homeless Shelter Contracts To New Hope Housing, Carpenter’s Shelter

(Thursday) September 2, 2010

The City of Alexandria has awarded two contracts to local nonprofits to provide services to the homeless. New Hope Housing, Inc., an innovative, award-winning non-profit agency that has provided emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing in Northern Virginia since 1977, received a contract to operate the Alexandria Community Shelter on Mill Road. The shelter, which opened in 1989, is a critical component of the City’s continuum of care and safety net services provided for the homeless. New Hope Housing has a demonstrated track record in implementing creative solutions and services based on best practices to support the organization’s commitment to end the cycle of homelessness and change the lives of those they serve. After a brief transition period, New Hope Housing will begin providing services on October 1, 2010.

A contract has also been awarded to Carpenter’s Shelter to coordinate overnight winter shelter (with the City’s faith-based communities) from November through April, when weather conditions could present serious health hazards for those living outdoors. Established in 1988, Carpenter’s Shelter is also an award-winning provider of shelter services and programs that address the complex and diverse needs of the City’s homeless populations. The agency has coordinated winter shelter services for the City since 1996.