County Approves $1 Million Private/Public Partnership to House Most Vulnerable Homeless Arlingtonians

County to match $500,000 Arlington Community Foundation grant
Providing housing and key services to most vulnerable homeless persons
Serving those identified in 100 Homes campaign

ARLINGTON, Va. – June 19, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The County Board today unanimously approved funding for a $1 million private/public partnership to house our most vulnerable homeless Arlingtonians.

The Board accepted a $500,000 Arlington Community Foundation (ACF) grant – which will be paired with a matching $500,000 contribution from the County – to fund a new Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program at the Marbella Apartments in Rosslyn. Local non-profit Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH) owns the Marbella and will oversee the housing.

The money will be used to “buy down” the affordability of 10 existing committed affordable units to 30 percent of Area Median Income (income of about $22,500 a year) via mortgage reduction payments to the developer, and to subsidize tenant rents in the units for the next seven and a half years.

Permanent Supportive Housing Model Has Proven Track Record

“Permanent Supportive Housing is helping us end homelessness in Arlington,” said County Board Chairman J. Walter Tejada. “Ninety percent of the County’s Permanent Supportive Housing clients have maintained stable housing since 2005. The program is effective because it combines housing with key support services for physical and mental health, substance abuse treatment, employment and money management.”

The Marbella program will be operated by the County Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Permanent Supportive Housing Program, which currently serves 180 individuals in apartments across the County. APAH was one of the first landlords to partner with the County Permanent Supportive Housing Program in 2004. Two non-profits service organizations, Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network and New Hope Housing, also operate permanent supportive housing programs in the County. Their programs served 32 chronically homeless individuals in 2012. DHS provides support services to ensure that the individuals will be successful in their new homes.

“APAH is proud to make a lasting contribution toward ending homelessness in Arlington County,” said Nina Janopaul, APAH president and CEO. “We will provide homes for 10 of the County’s most vulnerable homeless Arlingtonians at our Marbella Apartments as part of this innovative partnership. These will be among a handful of Arlington homes affordable to extremely low income households in the area. We are truly honored to be an important part of the solution to end homelessness in the community.”

Targets Vulnerable Homeless Arlingtonians

The Marbella Permanent Supportive Housing program will serve individuals identified through the County’s 100 Homes Campaign, an initiative of the County’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. In October 2011, volunteers and civic leaders identified and surveyed 153 homeless persons as part of the 100 Homes Campaign. Of those surveyed, 83 individuals were determined to be at high risk of dying on the street. To date, 55 of these homeless individuals have been successfully placed in permanent housing.

ACF Grant + Matching County Commitment = $1 Million

A gift in early 2012 of $500,000 was made by John G. Shooshan of The Shooshan Company to create the Arlington Community Foundation’s 100 Homes Fund. The County Board committed to matching the donation.

To read the staff report on this item, visit the County website. Scroll down to Item #32 on the Agenda for the June 18, 2013 Recessed County Board Meeting.

Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the “10 miles square” parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation’s Capital. Slightly smaller than 26 square miles, it is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, and one of only a handful with the prized Aaa/AAA/AAA bond rating. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods and quality schools, and has received numerous awards for Smart Growth and transit-oriented development. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world — including the Pentagon — Arlington stands out as one of America’s preeminent places to live, visit and do business.

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