Carpenter's Shelter Gets $2.5 Million From Jeff Bezos Charitable Fund

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria's nonprofit homeless shelter was among the recipients of grants from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund to support rehousing and address homelessness.

Carpenter's Shelter received a $2.5 million grant to support rapid rehousing of families experiencing homelessness from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund started by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. According to the organization, it will use the grant to address a wait list of families needing rapid rehousing as they face struggles like rising rent and insufficient income.

"Our vision of eradicating homelessness in our community is big, and this gift is equally large," said Shannon Steene, executive director at Carpenter’s Shelter, in a statement. "The waiting list for family shelter is greater than at any time I’ve seen over the last seven years."

According to Carpenter’s Shelter, the organization was selected as a grant recipient by a group of advocates and experts on homelessness and service provision. Founded in 1988, it serves over 600 people per year. In 2020, Carpenter's Shelter completed its redeveloped building, which includes an emergency shelter, day shelter, permanent supportive housing and 87 affordable housing units.

The Day 1 Families Fund provides awards to organizations that help families move from homelessness and shelters to permanent housing. Carpenter's Shelter was one of 40 organizations around the U.S. to receive a collective $123.45 million in grants this year. This was the fifth annual grant distribution, which has provided $520 million to organizations addressing homelessness in the U.S.

Other recipients in 2022 are listed on the Day 1 Families Fund website.