A local nonprofit is sounding the alarm about a worsening affordable housing crisis that’s driving homelessness to new heights across Northern Virginia.
Falls Church-based Homestretch released new data showing that finding affordable housing in the region has become increasingly difficult for many residents.
The numbers paint a stark picture: workers need to earn $38.73 per hour just to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment in Falls Church — more than five times the federal minimum wage.
The full press release is below.
FALLS CHURCH, VA – Homestretch, a non-profit dedicated to empowering homeless families with children in Virginia to attain permanent housing and self-sufficiency, recently highlighted data that shows that affordable housing is getting more difficult to access in northern Virginia, which is exacerbating the homelessness epidemic in the area.
Homestretch, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, provides solutions to families across northern Virginia who are facing the challenges that come with homelessness, but the many causes of homelessness must be addressed to resolve this growing issue in a bigger way. When affordable housing is limited, it becomes difficult for residents to find a place for their families to live comfortably, particularly in the Northern Virginia area.
Barfonce Baldwin, executive director of Homestretch, said of the trends in homelessness and affordable housing:
“Until there are solutions that address homelessness at its core, there will continue to be far too many unhoused people who are struggling across the country. While Homestretch will continue to serve homeless families in our community by providing them with the tools they need to succeed, I hope that lawmakers are working on a plan to help less of our neighbors end up in these difficult situations.”
In a letter to the editor in the Washington Post from late last year, Baldwin also wrote about the growing crisis of homelessness in communities across the country, calling to attention the need for lawmakers to prioritize solutions that would address the housing crisis that is affecting far too many Americans today.
See below for findings that show just how dire the situation around homelessness and affordable housing has become in recent years, both in Virginia and nationally:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DIFFICULT TO FIND IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
The hourly wage needed to afford a safe, modest two-bedroom apartment in Falls Church, Virginia today is $38.73 per hour. This is $26.73 (+223 percent) more than Virginia’s current minimum wage and $31.48 (+434 percent) more than the federal minimum wage.
At the same time, Virginia is facing a statewide shortage of affordable rental units – with at least 200,000 units needed to address the gap.
A 2020 JLARC study found that 29 percent of Virginia households are cost burdened, meaning that they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
HOMELESSNESS IS RISING IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA
According to recent data, Virginia saw a four percent increase in the overall number of homeless people between 2022 and 2023. During the same period, family homelessness in the Commonwealth rose by three percent.
In Fairfax County alone, between 2022 and 2023, homelessness increased by 10 percent.
NATIONAL TRENDS SHOW HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE IN A BAD PLACE
Affordability for housing is the worst it has ever been recorded, while rent is above pre-pandemic levels.
At the same time, as of last year, 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness across the United States – which is an 18 percent increase from 2023.
On a single night in 2024, it was reported that over 38,000 unaccompanied youth were experiencing homelessness.
A lack of affordable housing remains the largest driver of homelessness nationwide,
By putting a spotlight on these data points, Homestretch is aiming to bring much-needed attention to the crisis that many Americans are facing today. Lawmakers can help by investing in affordable housing, expanding access to mental health treatment and support, and strengthening economic support systems to address the many causes that push families into homelessness.
For more information on Homestretch, its programs, and how to get involved, visit https://www.homestretchva.org/
About Homestretch: Homestretch, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990, provides homeless families with safe, supportive housing and a comprehensive, two-year program designed to build financial stability, health, life skills, and careers. At the end of their time at Homestretch, families graduate into permanent housing they can afford on their own income. With a track record of success, 95% of Homestretch graduates remain housed and employed long after completing the program.