Carpenter's Shelter

About Carpenter's Shelter:

For over three decades, Carpenter's Shelter has grown from a modest initiative of providing bedding in a church basement on cold nights to becoming a front-runner in combating and preventing homelessness. With a compassionate heart, we offer more than just immediate shelter; we deliver comprehensive services aimed at addressing the root causes of homelessness for families and individuals. Through our two 64-bed residential facilities [The Hoffman Center and Alexandria Community Shelter], David's Place, and our Winter Shelter program, we provide not just a safe space but also essential services like case management, educational support, mental health assistance, and help in finding permanent housing. Our mission is to empower the 900 children, women, and men we serve annually, who are experiencing or at-risk of homelessness, ensuring they have the tools for lasting independence and a stable environment where they can flourish.

At the core of Carpenter's Shelter is the belief in empowerment, education, and respect. Understanding the complexity of homelessness, we approach each unique situation with solutions that emphasize collaboration, recognizing the diverse factors such as financial struggles, racial disparities, and the impact of recent challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation on housing security. Our vision is to end and prevent homelessness in our community, a goal that starts with compassionate care and the generous support of individuals and events like Spring2ACTion that share our commitment to making a difference.

Solutions through collaboration | Empowerment | Education | Dedicated to serving with respect.

Kiara and Elijah: A Story of Strength and Second Chances

One setback was all it took to turn Kiara’s world upside down. When she lost her job, her family lost their home. With nowhere to turn, she hesitated to seek shelter—past experiences had left her doubtful. This time, she told herself, would be different. It had to be—for her children.  

Carpenter’s Shelter wasn’t easy at first. Sharing space with strangers, adjusting to curfews, and facing the weight of an uncertain future felt suffocating. But Elijah was there, reminding her they had come too far to quit. The hardest part  wasn’t just adjusting to shelter life—it was breaking through the barriers keeping them homeless. A past eviction and relying solely on Elijah’s income meant landlord after landlord turned them away.

Doors kept closing. One rejection turned into three, then four. Each “no” felt like a reminder that the world saw them as their past mistakes, not as a family fighting to rebuild. It would have been easy to give up, but Carpenter’s Shelterrefused to let them fall through the cracks. With a case manager that never stopped advocating for them and a community that believed in them, they kept fighting.

Then, everything changed. Kiara secured a job and—after months of setbacks and resilience—they got the call: someone had said yes. A landlord willing to see them as more than just numbers on a rental application. The day they signed their lease wasn’t just about moving into an apartment—it was about reclaiming their future.

“Carpenter’s Shelter wasn’t just a place to stay. It was a place that lifted us back up when we had nothing,” Kiara shares. “They reminded us that rock bottom isn’t the end—it’s just where the climb begins.”

Today, Kiara and Elijah wake up in their own home—a place where their children can feel safe, where the stress of survival has been replaced with the hope of possibility. Their journey is proof that no one’s hardest moment should define their future. That with the right support, even the most impossible circumstances can change.

 * Identities have been changed for confidentiality reasons.

Be the Reason Someone Gets Their Second Chance

 The difference between homelessness and housing isn't luck- it's people like you. Every dollar you give creates a ripple effect, bringing hope and security to our neighbors who need it most.

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