Good Shepherd Housing Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Celebrating 70th Unit

On March 6, 2019, Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, Inc. (GSH) acquired its 70^th unit. This particular unit in Colchester Towne is a two-bedroom apartment and was acquired wholly using private contributions. Each acquisition expands the ability of GSH to offer permanent affordable rental housing in Fairfax County. 

A special ribbon cutting ceremony commemorating the acquisition was held on March 14, 2019. Several state and county officials attended the ceremony, including:

• Jeff McKay, Member, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Lee District
• Paul Krizek, Member, Virginia House of Delegates, 44^th District
• Karen Corbett Sanders, Vice Chair, Fairfax County School Board, Representative of Mount Vernon District
• James Migliaccio, Member, Fairfax County Planning Commission, Lee District
• Ashley Montgomery, Director of Public Affairs, Department of Housing and Community Development, Fairfax County
• Albert McAloon, Member, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority Commission, Lee District

“Preserving and developing new affordable housing remains a priority for Fairfax County” said Supervisor Jeff McKay (D-Lee District). “For many years, Good Shepherd Housing has been a strong partner with Fairfax County, providing affordable housing to struggling families. I am pleased to see that the community supports this effort as much as the County does, and am honored to celebrate this milestone acquisition which was purchased entirely with private contributions.”

“Every year, GSH is able to help one thousand working households thanks to the support of our generous community,” said David Levine, President and CEO of GSH. “We are planning to add at least an additional 150 units to our current housing inventory by 2025. Stable, affordable housing is the first step in a family’s journey to self-sufficiency, financial stability and economic empowerment.”

GSH was formed in 1974 when several parishioners at Good Shepherd Catholic Church found a struggling homeless refugee family living along Richmond Highway. They came together, first providing emergency shelter at a local hotel, building them a home, and then providing support services over many years. As times changed, the volunteers realized that need in the area had grown exponentially. In response, the organization hired a permanent, professional staff and acquired affordable housing units scattered throughout the Alexandria area of Fairfax County. 

GSH is situated along the historic Richmond Highway corridor of Fairfax County and has successfully housed thousands of neighbors in need. Their numbers grow every year. On average, GSH clients earn between 35 and 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), which in Fairfax County is $112,000 for a household of four. An analysis of the local real estate market has shown that for every two families that are within the 30 to 50 percent AMI, only one housing unit is available that is also affordable.

About Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services

Since 1974, GSH has been reducing homelessness and enabling self-sufficiency by providing permanent affordable housing, emergency financial services, budget counseling and case management to working families in Fairfax County. Earning numerous accolades for their work, GSH received the 2013 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, and was named one of the best nonprofits by the 2018-2019 Greater Washington Catalogue for Philanthropy.