This year has been anything but typical.
By June, more than 3,000 households had requested assistance paying rent in the wake of massive job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the County dug into its emergency funds and sought state and federal aid, two local groups also stepped up to help keep people in their homes.
On November 15, the Alliance for Housing Solutions will honor Arlington Thrive and The Church at Work with the Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award. This annual award is given to individuals or organizations who have significantly advanced efforts to increase the supply of and/or to improve the quality of affordable housing in Arlington. The award honors the late Ellen M. Bozman, a long-time Arlington County Board member and leader on affordable housing issues. She was a co-founder of the Alliance for Housing Solutions and a member of its Board of Directors. The virtual event will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Arlington Thrive
Founded 45 years ago, Arlington Thrive is the only organization in Arlington that provides same-day, emergency financial assistance to County residents who experience a sudden financial crisis. Led by Executive Director Andrew Schneider, they built on that experience to take the lead in distributing funds to help people pay rent and utilities during the pandemic. With a 400 percent increase in requests for help this year, Arlington Thrive has added seven social workers to their staff, including three who speak Spanish.
> “COVID-19 has not only uncovered ever increasing and divergent needs in the safety net space, but also has exposed the glaring disproportions that communities of color face during this pandemic.””
“COVID-19 has not only uncovered ever increasing and divergent needs in the safety net space, but also has exposed the glaring disproportions that communities of color face during this pandemic,” said Scott Friedrich, who serves as president of Arlington Thrive’s board.
“We are both honored and humbled to have received the distinguished Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award. It is truly a testament to the strong relationships that we continue to build through Arlington County and our community partners to get critical assistance to our Arlington neighbors in need.”
Arlington Thrive helps distribute funds in partnership with Arlington County’s Department of Human Services and raises additional funds from private donors. Their efforts continue to help thousands of Arlington residents stay safe and secure in their homes.
The Church at Work
On the first day schools were closed, Arlington Public Schools social worker Phyllis Thompson began calling families in her program for students with disabilities. The first call she made was to a single mother who had abruptly lost her job.
“It immediately hit me how hard this pandemic was going to affect our neighbors who were losing jobs,” Phyllis said. “My Christian faith informs me to love my neighbor, and I knew many other Christians also took that seriously.”
> “It immediately hit me how hard this pandemic was going to affect our neighbors who were losing jobs.””
She contacted a cooperative of churches, and together they formed a short-term rental assistance program, which they called The Church at Work in Arlington. The group raised $300,000 in two months to help families pay rent.
“In the midst of a crisis, I wanted the Arlington community members with great needs to know that not just one church, but that ‘the church’ was there for them,” Phyllis said.
The churches involved were Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Grace Community Church, Incarnation Anglican Church, McLean Bible Church: Arlington, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Portico Church Arlington, Redeemer Church of Arlington, Restoration Anglican Church, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church, and Washington Community Fellowship.
The award ceremony will also include a time to honor the late Erik Gutshall for his dedication to solving the challenge of housing affordability. Erik served on the Arlington County Board from 2017 to 2020. He passed away from brain cancer on April 16, 2020. For Erik, “Arlington for Everyone” was a central principle of policy and action, a measure of success, and the driving inspiration for the way ahead.
The 2020 Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award celebration is free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated to sustain the mission of increasing the supply of affordable housing in Arlington.
Potential sponsors, media, and others can contact AHS Executive Director Michelle Winters for additional information at michelle@allianceforhousingsolutions.org or 703-859-0452.
About the Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award
The Ellen M. Bozman Affordable Housing Award is given annually to individuals or organizations who have significantly advanced efforts to increase the supply of and/or to improve the quality of affordable housing in Arlington. The award honors the late Ellen M. Bozman, long-time Arlington County Board member and leader on affordable housing issues. She was a co-founder of the Alliance for Housing Solutions and a member of its Board of Directors. Learn more about her life of public service and previous awardees.
About Alliance for Housing Solutions
The Alliance for Housing Solutions (AHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks to increase the supply of affordable housing in Arlington County and Northern Virginia through public education, policy development, advocacy and innovation. AHS was created in 2003 by civic leaders motivated by their concern that Arlington was rapidly becoming a community in which only affluent families could afford to live. Since then, housing costs in our area have continued to escalate for both renters and owners, and the stock of housing affordable to low- and middle-income households has continued to decline. Our work is more important than ever. AHS helps to build greater public understanding of housing challenges and works toward the adoption of public policies that can help reverse the loss of affordable housing in our community.
