Arlington County Allocates $300K To Arlington Thrive For Emergency Financial Assistance

Press release from the Arlington County Government:

April 24, 2020

Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz has allocated $300,000 from the FY 2020 budget to meet increased demand for emergency financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The money will be provided from the FY 2020 budget contingency fund to Arlington Thrive, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to County residents who experience sudden crisis.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a rapid and significant increase in demand for financial help, specifically for residents who need help paying their rent,” Schwartz said. “It is important that we take steps to help Arlingtonians through this difficult time, so I am making this money available immediately.”

RELATED: FY 2021 Budget impacted by COVID-19

Arlington Thrive serves as the County’s primary vehicle for providing emergency financial assistance, as it can provide same-day money to residents, including low-income individuals, elderly and disabled residents on a fixed income, and people experiencing homelessness. The organization prioritizes families with children, and one-third of the people it serves are children.

“Arlington Thrive has been a key partner as we work to help all Arlington residents during this unprecedented time,” said Anita Friedman, director of Arlington’s Department of Human Services. “They provide a critical safety net for some of our most vulnerable residents, and this funding will help them fill an immediate need in our community.”

The allocation is anticipated to meet the increased demand over the next few months, but Schwartz also expects more funding will be needed after FY 2021 begins in July. There are no budget or tax impacts from the allocation.

Donate to the THRIVE Emergency Relief Fund—and learn how you can help

This press release was produced by the Arlington County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.