Arlington Thrive assistance programs.
Families facing a crisis can get financial aid from Arlington Thrive in a short period of time. This will depend on funding of the agency as well the qualifications of the applicant. Any type of support is contingent on many factors.
While there are many resources available, Arlington Thrive is the only non-profit organization in the region offering same-day emergency financial assistance. The help is available for Arlington County residents that are affected by a sudden financial crisis. This may be unexpected occurrences such as temporary unemployment or illness.
Most of the clients have some form of income. But they may be working poor, disabled, senior citizens, homeless, or formerly homeless, and these are the county’s most vulnerable. The programs and services at Arlington Thrive serve as a safety net for the less fortunate. It is available so they can depend on it until they are able to get back on a more firm financial footing. Highest priority is given to families with children as well as senior citizens, and in fact one-third of the individuals they serve are children.
The Arlington Thrive Food Pantry provides hundreds of income qualified individuals and families with food and personal hygiene products each month. In order to keep this service running, the charity will depend on donations of non-perishable groceries from the community. They also use the proceeds from a monthly food drive held each month by the parishioners of St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Any donations to the pantry are supplemented with items purchased by Arlington Thrive.
Based on depend and other factors, the charity will furnish each household with a 2 week supply of food, which includes rice, cereal, pasta and sauce, beans, meat, soup, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, bread, oil, tuna, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, dairy goods, sugar, salt, and powdered milk. Fresh fruits and vegetables are provided as they are available.
Not only that, but household goods are offered too. Each family at the food pantry also receives toothpaste, toilet paper, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, and shampoo. Detergent and cleaning supplies may be available too. Other items are also available, and find free stuff for the low income.
Arlington Thrive operates several anti-poverty programs to assist homeless and low-income households who are seeking a path out of poverty. Many are run in partnership with other groups. The programs are as follows.
- Assistance with obtaining basic needs.
- Links to mainstream benefits and resources, such as food stamps.
- Energy bill assistance.
- Grants for rent or a security deposit as a form of homeless prevention.
- Cultural and Linguistic Support is for low-income Latinos in Arlington County with limited proficiency in the English language.
- The Arlington Thrive Early Childhood Programs coordinate parenting training.
- Hunger Relief Services in addition to the pantry above.
There are also Homeless Access Centers in the region. These will offer homeless families, single moms, youth, and domestic violence survivors with emergency basic needs. There may be deposit help for rapid rehousing and referral to transitional housing.
The Daily Emergency Fund is an assistance program for those in financial crisis. The program provides one-time, same-day financial assistance. Money can be used for paying a limited amount of rent, transportation, medical and dental bills, prescriptions, and some work-related expenses. This service is available every weekday, except for holidays.
Referrals are needed to apply for the Daily Fund. Requests by social workers are taken over the phone by a volunteer, who then applies Arlington Thrive program criteria to approve the requests.
The Carter-Jenkinson Memorial Homelessness Prevention Fund is the next step in the process. This will assist those whose financial crises exceed the scope of the Daily Emergency Fund referenced above. This will focus on families at risk of becoming homeless. The Fund, established by and named for former AMEN board members Eleanor Carter and Frieda Jenkinson, helps with rent, mortgages and other related needs.
Many low to moderate income families who seek to secure federal Section 8 rental housing have difficulty in providing the landlord with both first-month’s rent and a security deposit. So to this end, Arlington Thrive’s Section 8 Security Deposit Loan Program provides much-needed interest-free loans to cover the cost of security deposits, with the aim of helping families move into stable housing. This helps address the needs of many low income families, or find other Virginia security deposit assistance programs.
Yet another housing resource, the Rental Assistance Program, serves low-income individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of eviction. Depending on funding availability, the program provides a hundred dollars or more for rent. Families with children will receive a higher dollar amount.
This one-time assistance is furnished on a first come, first served basis. To be eligible for a cash grant, household income must exceed the monthly rent payment and funding cannot be used to extend the time period before an eviction takes place.
Funded by a key partner known as Dominion Virginia Power and administered by Arlington Thrive, the Energy Share Program helps qualifying households pay their home heating and cooling bills. The dollar amounts paid out to a household are limited to a maximum of $500 for heating bills and a maximum of $300 for cooling costs. In most cases, the assistance for energy bills will need to prevent a utility shut-off.
As part of this service, Arlington Thrive puts its nominal administrative fee from Dominion Virginia back into the program. This is done in an effort to ensure that more Arlington residents can benefit. This program is run solely by a volunteer of the non-profit.
Better known among community members as WorkSource Lane, employment needs are met too. The non-profit offers free, high-value, specialized services and resources for job seekers, area businesses, and those who desire to retain their current jobs.
The agency will offer career guidance services at no charge. In addition, staff members from Arlington Thrive are available to provide information about Training Opportunities, Career Mapping, and other Employment Services.
Often combined with WorkSource, Arlington Thrive’s Dress for Work Success Program provides brand new, professional work attire to help graduates of the Arlington Works! Program. The support will help them make a smooth transition to self-sufficiency.
How to apply for assistance
Arlington Thrive depends on donations. Most of the aid is first come and served. The main address is PO Box 7429, or dial the Virginia agency at 703-558-0035.
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