Family Homelessness
Families make up more than half of the homeless population in Northern Virginia. Doorways met this need last year by providing residential services to 120 households in crisis.
Addressing Family Homelessness in Northern Virginia
- Freddie Mac Foundation Family Home: A 21-bed home that provides short-term housing for homeless families.
- HomeStart Supportive Housing Program: Housing and supportive services for families who leave Doorways shelters or are displaced from their housing. Continued services ensure an end to the cycle of family homelessness and promote lives of self-sufficiency.
Family Homelessness: The Issue
- The Facts: The population of homeless families in Arlington increased by 25% last year. We saw that increase. Doorways received 974 requests from families for shelter in 2008-2009.
- Risk Factors for Family Homelessness: From low minimum wage in an expensive economy to lack of affordable housing, families experience homelessness for a number of reasons.
Community Education and Advocacy
- Community-Wide Education Efforts: Educating the community is vital to our mission. After all, creating awareness means quickly getting help to those who need it. But it also means fostering a community that recognizes domestic violence warning signs and risk factors for family homelessness. It’s why we offer a variety of training and outreach tools designed to educate and engage the community.
- Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon: Each November, we raise awareness about family homelessness by participating in the annual Fannie Mae “Help the Homeless” Walkathon.
- The Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness: We’re proud to serve as a member agency in Arlington’s Housing First approach aimed at ending homelessness. Housing First is more than a slogan—it is a legitimate and innovative new direction being forged in the homeless-serving sector. It represents a paradigm shift from traditional methods of service delivery to one that emphasizes the need for permanent housing. If we are truly going to “end homelessness,” this is precisely the kind of philosophical and programmatic shift we will need.
Wanted: Volunteers!
Volunteering with the Family Home: assist families in shelter, interpret for families with limited English skills, or work with children at the Family Home.
