Community Lodgings’ Transitional Housing Program provides transitional housing to six homeless families in the City of Alexandria. The program provides opportunities for motivated, residents to obtain the necessary skills, income, resources and services that will enable them to find permanent housing and to the best of their abilities, achieve the highest levels of self-sufficiency possible within 2 years. Case management and support services are designed to facilitate residential stability, increased skills and/or income, and greater self-determination.
Services are sufficient to enable residents to achieve the greatest level of self-sufficiency possible during their program stay resulting in their developing independent living skills and obtaining permanent housing; and at a minimum include but are not limited to the following: 1) developing a working Service Plan addressing progress goals toward permanent housing, employment stability, budgeting and financial management, educational/vocational training, physical and mental health, and home maintenance; 2) working with residents to improve their credit scores; 3) and assisting residents in applying for all subsidized housing programs for which they are eligible.
All support is focused on the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency within two years. They must agree to remain alcohol/drug free, pay a program fee (30% of monthly income), save 5% of monthly income, maintain full-time employment and attend all workshops/meetings.
Read how Community Lodgings helped Denise’s family.
Eligibility Guidelines
Applicants for Community Lodgings’ Transitional Housing Program must meet ALL of the following eligibility guidelines:
- Applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
- Applicants must be a legal citizen of the United States.
- Applicants must be employed at least 35 hours per week and must be moving toward full-time employment (40 hours). If you are a student, the employment requirements still apply. Full-time employment is required of all adult clients in the program unless enrolled in a pre-approved full-time vocational program.
- Applicants must have been drug-free for a year or more. If in a drug program (drug courts), the applicant must provide documented clean time. Any applicant will be tested at any time while in our program.
- Applicants must have picture identification issued by either the state of Virginia or a Northern Virginia shelter. Birth certificates and social security cards are required for all children of the applicant.
- Applicants must meet Community Lodgings’ income guidelines, having a total family income that does not exceed 50% of the area’s median income.
- Applicants must be experiencing a housing crisis such as being homeless, living in a shelter or be at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
- All applicants must be willing to sign a program agreement and adhere to all programmatic guidelines.
- All applicants must agree to share information regarding their social services, financial, mental health, medical, rental, employment and legal history.
- All applicants must agree to provide police clearances and mental and physical health evaluations.
- Parents must have custody of at least one minor child.
- The parent must be willing to work on obtaining a GED or external diploma if s/he did not complete high school.
- Families must be willing to have alcohol and drug-free households (even if the parent has no history of addiction)
- For a two-parent household, both parents must meet all program criteria and requirements.
- The client must possess sufficient resources to provide for the program fee, basic living expenses (food, clothing, laundry, personal items, etc.), and savings. Income may be from a variety of sources.
If you meet ALL of these guidelines and you would like more information on the Transitional Housing Program, contact Charlyne Braxton at cbraxton@community-lodgings.org or call 703-549-4407.