homelessness | ALXnow

Nonprofit leader Wanda Pierce hired as interim leader at Carpenter’s Shelter

Published March 11, 2026 at 3:45PM

Wanda Pierce, the interim executive director at Carpenter's Shelter (courtesy of Carpenter's Shelter)

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.

Around Town

‘Yarn Storm’ at Alexandria Library collects hundreds of hats, mittens and scarves for donation

By Katie Taranto

Published December 18, 2025 at 11:45AM

Jessica Shea sits among piles of hats and cold weather accessories for donation (courtesy of Alexandria Library)

If you visited Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library recently, you might have noticed a colorful collection of pom-poms planted in the grounds outside.

The whimsical pom-pom garden encouraged donations to the Alexandria Library’s annual Yarn Storm drive, which collected some 400 hats, mittens and scarves for donation to an Alexandria shelter.

News

Alexandria sees 11% drop in homelessness amid regional decline

By Ryan Belmore

Published May 14, 2025 at 7:00PM

Volunteer conducting PIT count. Photo credit: Pathways to Housing DC

Alexandria reported a significant 11% decrease in homelessness in the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) count, with 166 people experiencing homelessness compared to 187 in 2024. This reduction aligns with a broader regional trend that saw overall homelessness decline by 1% across the Washington metropolitan area.

The annual count, conducted on January 22, 2025, reveals that Alexandria’s progress outpaces the regional average, making it one of four jurisdictions to report decreases in homelessness this year. The city’s reduction of 21 people experiencing homelessness represents meaningful progress in local housing efforts.

News

Carpenter’s Shelter opens 64-bed winter facility for homeless in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published December 13, 2024 at 11:35AM

(Left to right) Tianna Spratley, LeBaron Frost, Denise Ziegler, shelter executive director Shannon Steene, Deputy City Manager Alethea Predeoux at the ribbon cutting for the renovated Carpenter's Shelter in Old Town (courtesy photo)

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.

News

Carpenter’s Shelter debuting newly rennovated shelter in Carlyle neighborhood next month

By Vernon Miles

Published November 21, 2024 at 9:15AM | Updated November 22, 2024 at 9:54AM

Interior of new Carpenter's Shelter facility (courtesy photo)

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:

News

Carpenter’s Shelter gets $2.5 million from Bezos Day 1 Family Fund

By James Cullum

Published November 28, 2022 at 3:30PM

Shelter interior, photo via Carpenter's Shelter/Facebook

Carpenter’s Shelter has been awarded a $2.5 million grant by the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, and plans to use the money to rapidly re-house homeless Alexandrians.

The $2.5 million is the largest private gift in the history of the Fund, which was created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2018. The fund has given more than $520 million to similar organizations and nonprofits doing “compassionate, needle-moving work” to provide shelter and hunger support for young families around the country.

News

Winter shelters open to keep homeless Alexandrians warm and safe

By Vernon Miles

Published December 2, 2021 at 2:30PM

Shelter interior, photo via Carpenter's Shelter/Facebook

Carpenter’s Shelter opened its winter shelters yesterday as a warm refuge for locals experiencing homelessness.

According to a press release from the city, the Winter Shelters are open from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. regardless of the weather. The shelter opened yesterday (Wednesday) through March 31.

News

Morning Notes

By James Cullum

Published March 22, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated March 22, 2021 at 8:47AM

Alexandria launches pop-up recreation — “Stationed at various outdoor locations throughout the city, including parks and schools, the Pop-Up Rec will encourage people of all ages to get physically active. There will also be some indoor activities. Look for the Pop-Up Rec every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.” [Zebra]

Struggling veterans find new home in Alexandria — “Operation Renewed Hope Foundation opened a new home in Alexandria for Northern Virginia veterans struggling with homelessness on March 9, according to a news release.” [Alex Times]

News

Homelessness Increased 5% in Alexandria in 2020, Region Collecting 2021 Data

By James Cullum

Published February 26, 2021 at 12:00PM

Sleeping on a bench on the Alexandria waterfront. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

James Harris has been coming to Christ House to get an evening meal for about a year ever since he lost work from the pandemic.

“Strange how all that started,” Harris told ALXnow just before 5 p.m. outside the Old Town charity. “It just popped up out of the blue, so I’ve been coming here for about a year since business got quiet.”

News

ALXnow’s Top Stories of the Week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published February 19, 2021 at 3:30PM

Exercising near the closed GenOn power plant in Alexandria near the Potomac River. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It was a cold and snowy week in Alexandria.

Our top story this week was on plans to redevelop the GenOn power plant in Old Town North. It looks like deconstruction of the plant will start in 2023 and developers are looking at converting it into an urban, mixed-use property with housing.

News

Police Identify Woman Found Dead in Arlandria, Mayor Says Homelessness Increasing

By James Cullum

Published February 18, 2021 at 10:30AM

Alexandria Police lights (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria Police have identified the homeless woman found dead in Arlandria on Tuesday as 49-year-old Isabelle Hernandez Saballa.

Police said Saballa, who went by the name “Dora”, was a known subject in the community and her death was not suspicious in nature.