Partnering With Community Ministry of Northern Virginia (CM) To Enable Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is a well-known problem in Northern Virginia

• Government programs subsidize low-income rents (HUD section 8a), but:
• Funding is declining, there are long waiting lists, and too few participating landlords.
• The programs don't strive to lift families out of the need for rent subsidies.
• By teaming with Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services Agency, Community Ministry can serve as a catalyst for the faith community in Northern Virginia to help.
• Good Shepherd screens applicants to find needy, working families who require some rent subsidy, but who have the potential to become self-sufficient through financial counseling.
• Counseling is mandatory and the rent subsidies decline over time to lead participating families to the ultimate goal of self sufficiency.

CM's role is:

• To find churches or synagogues in Northern Virginia willing to commit to provide monthly or annual rent subsidies to the Good Shepherd Housing program.  (CM has already found two such churches and funds to match their contributions.)
• To find "faithful landlords" --property owners from the faith community willing to let Good Shepherd manage the leasing of these properties to program participants.  (CM has found two such "faithful landlords.")
• Good Shepherd could provide a complete program of assistance to 20 more families today, if CM could find the churches or synagogues to commit to the monthly or annual rent subsidies (as little as $100-$200 per month).
• CM, together with Good Shepherd and faith communities, can provide affordable housing and eventually self-sufficiency to working poor families.