Alexandria

Alexandria, Virginia sits just across the river from Washington, D.C., a historic port city of cobblestone streets and rowhouses that carries a lot of wealth alongside real, quiet struggle. The average household income here runs high, often cited near $130,000, but that number hides how sharply the gap cuts for those without stable housing. Alexandria's most recent point-in-time count identified around 200 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2023, a number the city has worked hard to bring down through coordinated outreach. Organizations like Carpenter's Shelter, ALIVE! (Alexandrians Involved Efficiently), and Christ House have been steady presences here, offering shelter, food, and a path toward stability for people who need it. Carpenter's Shelter in particular has long served as an entry point for emergency housing and case management in the city. This is a place where help exists if you know where to look, and asking for it is not weakness — it's how people get through. You are not invisible here, and you don't have to figure this out alone.