About
Our Mission
Carpenter’s Shelter served more than 700 homeless and formerly homeless children and adults last year.
At Carpenter’s Shelter, we believe housing is key to stability. We offer shelter and comprehensive services for children, women, and men experiencing homelessness with the ultimate goal of transitioning those we serve to permanent, sustainable housing.
Since our inception in 1988, our mission has focused on the most under-resourced residents of our community. All those we serve are low-income; a majority face the challenges of job loss, reduced work hours, accumulated debt, domestic violence, lack of family support, mental illness, substance abuse, prior incarceration, or a history of eviction.
Homelessness disproportionality impacts people of color. At Carpenter’s Shelter, we are committed to advancing racial equity and addressing the system and policy issues that created the disparities. Through our efforts to shelter, stabilize, and transition residents into homes of their own, we provide immediate solutions while advocating for systemic changes, including the expansion of affordable housing in our community.
In 2020, we completed the extensive New Heights redevelopment of our property, which houses our purpose-built Emergency Shelter, Rapid Re-Housing programming, David’s Place day shelter, administrative offices, ten Permanent Supportive Housing units, and eighty-seven affordable housing units owned and managed by our partner, Housing Alexandria.
Established in 1982, Carpenter’s Shelter embarked on its mission to provide essential support to those in need, finding its roots in the basement of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. In those early days, the organization’s dedication to offering shelter, clothing, and other necessities laid the foundation for its future endeavors.
By 1988, Carpenter’s Shelter had outgrown its original space and sought a larger location to accommodate the growing demand for its services. This led to a significant move to an old Department of Motor Vehicles location, where the organization continued its vital work of assisting individuals and families facing homelessness and adversity.
In 2018, Carpenter’s Shelter temporarily moved to Landmark Mall, awaiting its new Heights building. Despite this change, its unwavering commitment continued, providing support for those facing hardship, eagerly awaiting its permanent home.
In 2018, Carpenter’s Shelter experienced a pivotal moment as the old Department of Motor Vehicles location was demolished to make way for the construction of the new Heights building. Despite the challenges posed by the demolition of its longstanding home, the organization embraced the opportunity for renewal and growth, envisioning a brighter future for its services.
In 2020, Carpenter’s Shelter found its permanent home in the new Heights building, marking a significant milestone. Temporarily, it had sought refuge at Landmark Mall, showing resilience and determination amidst changes. This transition symbolized Carpenter’s Shelter’s adaptability and commitment to the community.
In December 2023, Carpenter’s Shelter signed a multi-year contract with the City of Alexandria to be the sole operator of the Alexandria Community Shelter, deepening its commitment to serving those in need. In 2020, the completion of the New Heights building marked another milestone, providing modernized services and hope for the community. As Carpenter’s Shelter continued to evolve and expand, its impact on Alexandria remained profound.
Our History
Carpenter’s Shelter began in 1982 on a cold winter night when Father Tony Casey of Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria found one man sleeping in his car and another asleep in the doorway of the church. Believing that everyone deserves a warm, safe place to sleep at night, Father Casey welcomed the two men into the church and allowed them to spend the night. The next night, the men came back. With the help of two volunteers and ten cots, Father Casey opened the basement of the church to those in need of shelter from harsh winter weather. Blessed Sacrament’s basement provided shelter to those in need during the winter for six years, until the day the building was torn down. With the church gone and the demand growing for bed space, a small group of dedicated individuals founded Carpenter’s Shelter in 1988.
Since our inception, Carpenter’s Shelter has evolved from a small group of concerned citizens providing bedding on cold nights into a leader in finding solutions that permanently end and prevent
homelessness. Our comprehensive services meet the immediate needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness; our continuum of essential programs and ongoing support help them work toward permanent homes where adults are stable, and children can grow and thrive. We are open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and serve more than 700 children, women, and men each year.
In 2020, we completed the extensive New Heights redevelopment of our property, which houses our purpose-built Emergency Shelter, Rapid Re-Housing programming, avid’s Place day shelter, administrative offices, ten Permanent Supportive Housing units, and eighty-seven affordable housing units owned and managed by our partner, ousing Alexandria. Our new building will provide the infrastructure for Carpenter’s Shelter to meet community needs for decades to come.
Carpenter’s Shelter Becomes the Operator of Alexandria Community Shelter (ACS)
In December 2023, Carpenter’s Shelter deepened its partnership with City of Alexandria by assuming operations of its Alexandria Community Shelter (ACS.) ACS is a 64-bed emergency shelter that serves both individuals and families. The Alexandria Community Shelter is funded by the City of Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services’ Office of Community Services.
Our Mission
