What began as a quiet briefing quickly turned into a looming crisis for Alexandria’s leadership. Mayor Alyia Gaskins was stunned to learn that nearly 450 families living in public housing collectively owed about $1 million in back rent—putting every one of them at risk of eviction.
The Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority (ARHA), which manages more than 1,000 public housing units, revealed that overdue balances ranged from as little as $50 to nearly $30,000. For Gaskins, the numbers weren’t just financial—they were human. “My concern was what happens next,” she said, noting the city’s already stretched social services system would struggle to absorb hundreds of displaced families.
Faced with a potential wave of evictions, Gaskins turned to an unexpected but powerful partner: the faith community. Reaching out to the Mayor’s Interfaith Council, she posed a bold question—could the community come together to wipe the slate clean?
Two phone calls helped set that plan in motion, including one to Rev. Howard-John Wesley of Alfred Street Baptist Church. At the time, the church was already preparing its SEEK campaign, a fundraising initiative focused on housing and homelessness. When Wesley shared the urgency of the situation with his congregation, the response was immediate and extraordinary.
In a remarkable act of collective generosity, Alfred Street Baptist raised enough to cover the entire $1 million owed, launching what is now known as the Fresh Start Initiative.
But the effort goes beyond paying off debt. Each participating family will meet individually with support teams to understand the causes behind their financial struggles and create a path forward. Additional faith organizations, including Shiloh Baptist, Agudas Achim, and Groveton Baptist, are stepping in to fund long-term support services such as job training and food assistance.
“This is about helping people rebuild,” said Rev. Taft Quincey Heatley of Shiloh Baptist Church.
With nonprofit ACT for Alexandria overseeing fund distribution and ARHA committing to improved oversight systems, the city is not just resolving a crisis—it’s rewriting what community response can look like when compassion meets action.
