See updates on the DCHS projects developed under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 that resulted in a $59.4 million allocation to the City of Alexandria to support businesses, basic needs for families, pandemic recovery efforts and long-term community investment. DCHS programs and staff supported a wide range of ARPA projects in collaboration with our community partners.

ARISE received 4,000 applications. Eligibility criteria included City resident, 18 years or older, and a household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income. After a random selection of 170 participants, all began receiving $500 each month, no strings attached. The City is partnering with Abt Associates to conduct a trial that will allow the City to understand the impact of $500 a month for two years on financial stability, employment, mental and physical well-being, housing and food security, a sense of hope and personal value, and the impact on children whose parents were selected.

DCHS, working in collaboration with ACT for Alexandria, enhanced service navigation supports to ensure families could access federal, state and local programs and resources. These grants strengthened navigation efforts in Alexandria by funding eight local non-profits to support and address the ongoing needs of Alexandrians. DCHS staff coordinated with grantees and other community non-profits to help Alexandrians navigate and apply for public assistance programs and access emergency aid for such things as childcare, job training, rent assistance, food, medical bills and transportation. See additional information on the Community Access grant program.

Two new eviction prevention positions were developed in FY 23: a Housing Relocator and a Service Navigator. The Homeless Services Assessment Center connected households facing housing instability with resources and provided rent assistance. The inter-agency Eviction Prevention Task Force worked to prevent pending evictions.  Additionally, the Community Access and Emergency Support (CAES) grant program, a partnership between DCHS and ACT for Alexandria, supported the community with more than $800,000 to prevent evictions and provide rental assistance for Alexandrians facing housing instability. DCHS staff worked closely with housing focused CAES grantees to coordinate eviction prevention efforts in emergent cases. See further information on the CAES Emergency Support.

A Food Security Coordinator position oversaw food security efforts including gathering data on needs and access, and partnering with community organizations to connect all eligible Alexandrians to SNAP and other food resources. Non-profit partner ALIVE! established and operated two food hubs in the east and west end of the City that provide culturally appropriate food items, and also purchased produce directly from a vendor that packaged items for safe distribution during regularly sponsored pop-up events and neighborhood food pantries. Other emergency support--part of the larger Community Access and Emergency Support (CAES) grant program-- also targeted food security. Grantees provided free breakfasts, grocery gift cards, and bags of self-stable groceries to meet needs in their respective neighborhoods.

Initiatives to build equitable services and increase awareness of City services for LGBTQ+ communities and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) included trainings for service providers on inclusive services, new by-laws and leadership roles for the LGBTQ+ Task Force, the Transgender Day of Visibility workshop and Pride Fair, and development of the Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Program Race and Social Equity Work Group for employees working to advance equity for survivors of violence.

DCHS collaborated with ACT for Alexandria to support disbursement sustainability and social emotional wellness grants to childcare providers. These grants provided financial support to licensed and regulated providers in the City of Alexandria that were in danger of closing or had a business in recovery due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $1.75 million in sustainability grants and social emotional wellness funds were awarded to providers serving Alexandria. See additional information on the Childcare Workforce Stabilization grant program.

The Workforce Development Center operated re-employment and upskilling programs that served unemployed or underemployed people. During the Work-Based Learning Initiative (WBL), clients were placed with employers for learning opportunities which also helped mitigate the staffing shortages and resulting capacity issues experienced by community non-profits as a result of the pandemic.

Learn more about all ARPA-funded City projects and goals.