Well over 1,000 individuals (a third are children) are homeless in affluent Fairfax County. Most have limited education and work skills, chronic illness or addiction, histories of eviction, language challenges. They need rigorously tailored services to succeed and for 70 families annually, Homestretch provides just that: two years of housing, case management, employment assistance, scholarships for training and education, money management and debt reduction, life skills, parenting, computer, and ESOL classes, therapy for survivors of violence, and services for children, including a licensed preschool. Homestretch has a 90% retention rate and a full 95% of graduates remain permanently housed. Adults who were homeless and in crisis become nurses, accountants, teachers, plumbers, chefs, social workers, restaurant owners; many children go on to college. The array of intensive services is costly but has a significant payoff when previously homeless families begin ... to amaze themselves.

Headquarters: VA-City of Falls Church

Where They Operate: VA-Fairfax County; VA-City of Fairfax; VA-City of Falls Church

Age Groups Served: Infants (0-2); Pre-K (3-4); Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49); All

Population(s) Served: Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Women/Girls; Veterans/Military Families; Immigrants/Refugees; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members

Schools They Work In: Homestretch children attend many of the Fairfax County and Falls Church City schools. Child Service Coordinators work with the schools to ensure that children are receiving all of the services they need.


  • Individuals housed (temporary shelters, transitional housing, permanent housing) annually:   70 families annually
  • Number of volunteers who work with us annually:   600
  • The average savings of a Homestretch family upon graduation:   $4,578

Awards & Recognition

2015 Carroll Shreve Award for Meritorious Service from Falls Church Chamber of Commerce.
2014 Northern Virginia Nonprofit Leadership Award from Leadership Fairfax.
2014-2016 Helping Hand Award from the Washington Post, resulting in a series of articles about successful Homestretch graduates during November and December of 2014, 2015 and 2016.
2013 Fair Housing Award from the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission.
2013 Business Person of the Year (Executive Director Christopher Fay), McLean Rotary Club.
2010 Best Volunteer Program from Volunteer Fairfax.
2008 Blue Diamond Award from the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce.
2005 Innovative Community Collaboration Award from the Family and Children’s Trust Fund (FACT).
2004 Governor’s Award for Best Housing Program in Virginia.
2001 Washington Post Excellence in Nonprofit Management Award (honorable mention)



Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • The current budget for Homestretch is: $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

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