[Archived] City of Alexandria Receives Audrey Nelson Community Development Award

­­For Immediate Release: February 2, 2021

The City of Alexandria’s Office of Housing has received the 2020 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award for its support of the construction of The Bloom/Carpenter’s Shelter. The project is an innovative co-location of 97 affordable housing units with a homeless shelter that can accommodate up to 60 individuals experiencing homelessness. Ten of the affordable housing units are designated as permanent, supportive housing for persons exiting homelessness who receive on-site supportive services. The property also features a playground, three outdoor terraces, a 1,600-square-foot food production garden, TransitScreen technology in the lobby and secure bicycle storage.

The Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award, presented by the National Community Development Association, recognizes exemplary uses of the Community Development Block Grant program and the partnerships between local government and nonprofits to assist low- and moderate-income households. In 2018, the City of Alexandria, Community Lodgings Inc. (CLI), and HomeAid of Northern Virginia were awarded the Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award for their collaboration in the substantial renovation of CLI’s multifamily building located at 607 Notabene Drive. 

The Office of Housing coordinates and administers housing-related programs and services and makes recommendations on housing policy and affordable housing investments. The Office of Housing works closely with City and nonprofit partners, including the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, to implement the Housing Master Plan's Housing for All policy and goal of creating new affordability in 2,000 units by 2025.

Visit alexandriava.gov/Housing for more information about the City’s affordable housing projects.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.