"To engage and lead faith communities in Northern Virginia to improve the social condition, dignity, and economic health of those in need among us, and to be an advocate for them."
"To engage and lead faith communities in Northern Virginia to improve the social condition, dignity, and economic health of those in need among us, and to be an advocate for them."
The voucher for rental assistance (formerly known as Section 8 voucher) has been a very successful program to allow low income citizens to live in rental housing. However, in the past it has been difficult to find landlords to accept a family with a voucher. At the same time, we know that a large percentage of residential rental property is owned by individuals. A large percentage of these individuals are members of the faith communities in our community.
Why would a landlord choose to accept a low income family as a tenant? It could be that their religious beliefs would give them some motivation.
Community Ministry’s Faithful Landlord program provides the opportunity for individual members of faith communities to provide a home to those who need a home to rent using their voucher for rental assistance. Those involved in Community Ministry believe that many of the over one thousand faith communities in Northern Virginia have at least one member who can provide a rental home to those, whom in faith, we call our neighbor.
An alternative to direct renting to a family is to lease a home to Good Shepherd Housing and Family Assistance of Alexandria and they will lease to a holder of a housing voucher. They will accept responsibility, and place a qualified family in your property.
Those individuals who are willing to be a “faithful landlord” for those low income families and individuals who hold a voucher for rental assistance can utilize Community Ministry of Northern Virginia to get involved.
Contact Larry Graham, a Board member of Community Ministry and the volunteer coordinator of the Faithful Landlords program. Larry can be contacted by email at Fourbearnz@aol.com or at 703-451-7792.
Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services can be reached at their email at steene@goodhousing.org or at 703-768-9404.
The web site for Good Shepherd is at www.goodhousing.org
