A Virginia church stepped in to help public housing residents pay off their debts. Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria pledged $1 million to provide financial relief for hundreds of low-income families. The initiative came after Mayor Alyia Gaskins learned that nearly half of public housing residents had overdue rent.
Alfred Street Baptist Church covers overdue rent of public housing residents
After Mayor Alyia Gaskins came into the position in January 2025, she learned that nearly half of public housing residents had overdue rent. This issue affected over 1,000 public housing units in Alexandria.
“I was curious how much did people owe and I learned it was everything from $50 to some owing close to $30K,” Gaskins said, according to NBC 4 Washington. “My concern was what happens next.”
She reached out to community leaders, including Alfred Street Baptist Church. It so happened that, at the time, the church already began its SEEK campaign to raise funds and help remedy issues of homelessness and housing.
“We are getting ready with our SEEK offering to stop the eviction of 450 families in the city of Alexandria who can retain their houses because of our giving,” Rev. Howard-John Wesley said during a service. “People wanting to be connected to something bigger than themselves, and in the midst of the days and times in which we live which seem to be so callous and cruel to people who are impoverished, here’s a way to make a difference.”
Alfred Street Baptist Church reportedly paid off about $1 million in overdue rent, according to The Washington Post. The news came as a surprise for residents, who received notices that they qualified for the program.
Gaskins said the donation will offer a new beginning for the housing authority while noting that housing affordability is a major challenge in the city.
“As the cost of everything gets higher and higher, it’s becoming more and more difficult to stay in our community,” she said.
What happens next?
Every resident who receives financial relief will have to attend an individual meeting to talk about how they came to be in their situation. These meetings will help ensure residents won’t owe rent in the future, according to NBC 4 Washington. They are also encouraged to attend a financial literacy course offered by the city.
“What is the blessing of a fresh start?” Gaskins said, per The Washington Post. “It’s not just having no balance, it’s the power to not have a balance again.”
The donation will go toward paying off remaining balances, while the remaining funds will go to other organizations that help combat housing issues. The nonprofit organization ACT for Alexandria will help ensure the donation is well spent.
It isn’t the first time Alfred Street Baptist Church has helped the community financially. Earlier this year, it pledged $1 million to support the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. It also helped the tuition debt of 34 Howard University students in 2019, according to The Washington Post.
