Alexandria posted a significant year-over-year increase in the number of residents counted as homeless, with major upticks in the number of Black residents and children experiencing homelessness, according to new data.
A total of 189 people across the city were tabulated as experiencing homelessness in the 2026 Point-in-Time Survey, conducted in early February across the Washington region.
ACT for Alexandria has done it again. On Wednesday, Spring2ACTion, the biggest day of giving in Alexandria, raised more than $3.4 million for 198 area nonprofits.
Spring2ACTion is the main annual fundraiser for most participating nonprofits. ACT for Alexandria eclipsed its $2.5 million goal for the event, which drew participation from more than 7,000 donors, 198 nonprofits and more than 60 businesses.
Nonprofit leader Wanda Pierce has been selected as the interim executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, the organization announced today.
Pierce, the former CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation, started work yesterday (Tuesday), temporarily filling the vacancy recently left by former longtime Executive Director Shannon Steene. Pierce will manage Carpenter’s Shelter’s 64-bed Hoffman Center, as well as the 64-bed Alexandria Community Shelter on Mill Road as the organization’s board of directors conducts a national search for Steene’s replacement.
Shannon Steene says that a ritual with keys is his favorite part of the job as executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter.
On the days when clients at the homeless shelter move out to transition into newfound housing, staff and other residents will say goodbye to them by jingling their keys. Now after 11 years leading the nonprofit, Steene said he’s looking forward to his own departure ceremony of sorts, as he’s stepping down later this month to lead Reston-based nonprofit Cornerstones.
Former Alexandria City Councilman Frank Fannon is hosting his 18th annual Alexandrians Have Heart food and clothes drive in Old Town on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Fannon started the drive after getting elected to City Council in 2008, and says that he’s hoping this year to deliver a record six Ford F-150-sized truck beds full of food and clothes to ALIVE!, Carpenter’s Shelter and Christ House.
Shannon Steene, the longtime executive director of Carpenter’s Shelter, is stepping down next month, the organization announced today (Wednesday).
After 11 years leading one of Northern Virginia’s largest homeless shelters, Steene will be departing the role to be the CEO of Reston-based Cornerstones, providing advocacy and support to people who need food, shelter, housing, child care and other services in northwestern Fairfax County and eastern Loudoun County.
Alexandria-based Carpenter’s Shelter will hold its signature fundraiser next month, pitting chefs around the city against each other.
Chefs from more than a dozen Alexandria restaurants will compete in the Carpenter’s Cook-Off 2025 from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, at The Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Avenue). Funds from the event will benefit the nonprofit, which provides temporary housing and support for hundreds of homeless families and individuals every year.
Country music artist Steven Cade will bring his Giving Guitars Tour to Alexandria next week, performing at Carpenter’s Shelter while donating a guitar to inspire residents experiencing homelessness.
The Grammy-nominated musician will visit Carpenter’s Shelter’s The Hoffman Center at 930 N. Henry St. on July 10 at 3:30 p.m. for a live performance and guitar donation as part of his nationwide charitable initiative. That evening, Cade will perform at the Vine Alley in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Carpenter’s Shelter recently expanded operations with the opening of the renovated 64-bed Alexandria Community Shelter on Wednesday (Dec. 11).
Carpenter’s Shelter took over the former Department of Community and Human Services space at at 2355-B Mill Road a year ago. The made over space is operating as a winter shelter.
Carpenter’s Shelter, a local nonprofit supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, is hosting a ribbon-cutting next month for a newly renovated shelter in the Carlyle neighborhood.
Carpenter’s Shelter assumed operations at building at 2355-B Mill Road back in December, 2023 and converted the former Department of Community and Human Services building into a 64-bed shelter. According to the release:
ACT for Alexandria did it again.
Wednesday’s Spring2ACTion fundraiser — the largest single day of giving in Alexandria — broke the record set two years ago by collecting $2.9 million for 182 local nonprofits. The 13th annual event received more than 7,700 individual donations and ACT for Alexandria exceeded its goal of $2.5 million.
