FAQ
How can Good Shepherd Housing help me?
Our mission is to reduce homelessness, increase community support and promote self-sufficiency. For many of our client families that means we provide emergency financial assistance to pay for back rent or utility bills, keeping you in stable housing. For other client families who are facing homelessness we provide affordable housing, as well as the guidance and support to help you succeed.
What kinds of expenses will the Emergency Assistance program help pay?
The Emergency Assistance program will pay up to $250 in cash grants to prevent eviction or utility disconnections, as well as first mont's rent or security for a new apartment. Assistance is limited to once every 12 months. You must live within one of the following zip codes to be eligible: 22303, 22306, 22307, 22308, 22309, 22310, 22315, 22060, or 22079. Funds are available on the first of each month and are dispensed on a first-come-first-served basis according to need.
Do you provide emergency housing or shelter?
We are not a shelter program. We offer, instead, housing for families that can afford a modest rent for an apartment but are unable to get one due to other barriers – such as bad credit or rental history. We direct any individual that is looking for emergency housing to Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at (703) 222-0880.
Do you have subsidized housing?
No, but the rents for all of Good Shepherd's units are below the fair market rate for the area. We work hard to obtain the most affordable market-rate units for our tenants. Good Shepherd currently owns 30 housing units and is in the process of purchasing more. Owning properties allows us to have greater control over the rent so that we can keep it relatively low.
Do I have to be working to be eligible for a unit?
All applicants must be able to afford the rent for our housing through some sort of income or subsidy, such as Section 8. Generally we will not admit a family into the program unless they can afford to pay 30% or less of their monthly gross (before-taxes) income towards rent. Please see the ABC application for more details.
How do I apply for the ABC housing program?
Individuals interested in applying for housing can find the application on our website here. Completed applications can be mailed, faxed or brought into the office in person. Your application will be placed on a wait list for a unit on a first-come-first-served basis. When your name comes close to the top of the wait list you will be called in for an interview with staff and prepared for the next vacancy. Once a vacancy is available you will be expected to move into an apartment.
How long is the wait list for housing?
The wait for a unit depends on the size of the unit for which you are applying. The occupancy standard is usually two people per bedroom. Typically there is a shorter wait list for one-bedroom units then two, with three-bedrooms having the longest wait list.
Where are the units located?
All of Good Shepherd Housing's units are located along Richmond Highway (Route One) from the Beltway in Alexandria and down to Lorton in zip codes 22079, 22303, 22306 and 22309.
Do you accept furniture donations?
Unfortunately we no longer have the means to transport and store donated furniture. If you have any furnishings that you would like to donate we strongly encourage you to contact United Community Ministries' Back Porch Store at (703) 799-7015, which is located at 7838 Richmond Highway. They can pick up your items from home and provide the items available to those in need for low- or no-cost.
