Alfred Street Baptist Church Donates 1 Million to Clear Rent Debt for 318 Families

Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, donated 1 million dollars in April 2026 to clear the back rent of 318 families living in public housing. The gift, effective April 1, prevented a mass eviction that city officials said would have overwhelmed local social services.

Senior Pastor Dr. Howard-John Wesley led the effort after Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins reached out to the Mayor's Interfaith Council for help. When Gaskins took office, she found that nearly half of the residents in Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority units had fallen behind on rent, with debts ranging from 50 dollars to as much as 30,000 dollars.

The church raised the 1 million dollars through its congregation and supporters during its annual fast. Alfred Street had already established a SEEK campaign focused on homelessness and housing insecurity, which provided the organizational foundation for the rapid response.

The program includes mandatory individual meetings with each family to address the root causes of their financial hardship. Shiloh Baptist Church, Agudas Achim, and Groveton Baptist are providing follow-up support, including financial literacy courses and workforce development programs. The nonprofit ACT for Alexandria is managing the funds.

The donation is one of the largest single acts of direct housing relief by a Black church in recent memory. Church leaders said the goal is not just to pay a bill but to help families build the stability needed to stay housed long-term.

Alexandria officials said the partnership between the city and faith communities offers a model for addressing housing crises in other cities where eviction rates are rising.