Basic Organization Information
Alternative House
- Also Known As:
-
Abused and Homeless Children's Refuge
- Physical Address:
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Dunn Loring, VA
22027
- EIN:
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54-0899463
- Web URL:
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www.TheAlternativeHo...
- Blog URL:
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thealternativehouse....
- NTEE Category:
-
L Housing, Shelter
-
L41 Temporary Shelter For the Homeless
-
P Human Services
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P45 Family Services (Adolescent Parents)
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O Youth Development
-
O50 Youth Development Programs
- Year Founded:
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1972
- Ruling Year:
-
1972
- How This Organization Is Funded:
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Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funding - $500,000
-
Fairfax County - $544,497
-
Individual Donations - $295,000
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Mission Statement
Abused and homeless young people deserve brighter futures. Alternative House - The Abused and Homeless Children's Refuge helps children and youth achieve this by providing shelter, food, and counseling to abused, homeless and at-risk young people. Beginning as a small runaway shelter for teenagers in 1972, Alternative House - The Abused and Homeless Children's Refuge has evolved into a system of services designed to respond to the changing needs of today's young people. We provide an Emergency Shelter for Teenagers; the Assisting Young Mothers (AYM) program for homeless, pregnant and parenting teenage mothers and their babies; the Homeless Youth Initiative, providing housing support for homeless high school students who don't have a parent or guardian; and Community Based Youth Services - neighborhood-based street outreach, after-school programs for at-risk children, a drop in teen center and a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-SAY-TEEN.
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Impact Statement
Alternative House - The Abused and Homeless Children's Refuge newest program is the Homeless Youth Initiative. It provides housing for high school students,18 to 21 years old, who are homeless and alone. Last June there were more than 350 such young people in Fairfax County. By providing host homes, rent subsidies and a single family home for girls, young people have the shelter and assistance they need to stay in school. All of the graduating seniors in our program went on to higher education.
In the past year more than 200 young people received safe shelter and counseling at our Emergency Shelter for Teenagers. 90% of those youth returned safely home after their stay at the Shelter and safe, alternative arrangements were made for those who could not return home.
In our Assisting Young Mothers program we provide safe shelter for up to 9 homeless young mothers and their children at a time. These young women may stay in the program for up to 24 months. Last year we served 12 young women and 15 children. For each opening in the program we receive an average of 8 applications.
Our Community Based Youth Services worked with more than 1,400 young people last year providing food, clothing, homework help, counseling and recreation. This past year we have once again seen an increased need for food for these children as families struggle with the economic recession. Because of this, our programs are serving meals rather than snacks at our drop in teen center and in our after school programs. We expect this to continue and possibly increase in the coming year.
Revenue and Expenses
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Financial Statements
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Chief Executive
Ms. Judith Dittman
Term:
Since
July
1995
Chief Executive Profile:
Judith Dittman is the Executive Director of Alternative House. She has more than 20 years experience in nonprofit development and administration. She has been with Alternative House for 17 years. Ms. Dittman is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Human Services, and the Federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Advisory Board, an Associate Member of the Mental Health Committee of the Fairfax County Community Services Board, chair of the legislative committee of Nonprofit NoVA, member of the Greater Washington Nonprofit Roundtable.
CEO/Executive Director Statement:
Alternative House - The Abused and Homeless Children's Refuge has provided quality services to at-risk, homeless, runaway and abused children and youth for 39 years. The recent economic downturn has made our services more crucial than ever. The strain placed on families by the economy is resulting in more young people facing abuse, being kicked out of their home or ending up homeless than ever before. This, coupled with decreased funding from many of our long-time partners, has made the support of our community even more important. I expect a record setting year for the number of children and youth making their way to our doors. We are working very hard to make sure that we are here to provide that support.
Officers for Fiscal Year
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Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
Emergency Shelter for Teenagers
- Budget:
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$651,136
- Category:
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Housing
- Population Served:
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Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
The Emergency Shelter for Teenagers provides safe shelter, food and clothing to young people 13 to 17 years old who are homeless, runaway or abused. In addition, youth receive individual and group counseling. Whenever possible family counseling is also provided. Young people may stay at the shelter for up to three weeks, with a goal of reuniting with the family if at all possible If that is not possible, we work to find an alternative, safe, long-term living arrangement for the youth.
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Program:
Assisting Young Mothers (AYM)
- Budget:
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$429,479
- Category:
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Housing
- Population Served:
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Female Young Adults (20-25 years) -- currently not in use
Program Description:
Assisting Young Mothers is a home for young women who are single parents, 16 to 24 years old and who are homeless. While in the program the young mothers receive shelter, food and help with the skills they will need to become self-sufficient members of the community. This includes assistance with education, job skills, budgeting, life skills and, perhaps most important, parenting skills. The young women and their children may stay in the AYM program for up to two years.
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Program:
Community Based Youth Services
- Budget:
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$624,909
- Category:
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Youth Development
- Population Served:
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Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
Our Community-based Youth Services programs reach young people in their neighborhoods, providing services designed to keep them in school and away from risky behaviors. Over12,400 young people were reached in 2010 with services such as a drop-in teen center that provides after-school snacks, tutoring, supervised recreation, workshops and dinner for any young person who does not have food at home. Our mobile outreach van reaches young people on the street providing food, clothing, personal hygiene supplies and referrals. Other programs work with youth in 4th through 6th grades providing after-school support. All youth served are low income and at-risk of being recruited into neighborhood gangs and other negative behaviors
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Program:
Homeless Youth Initiative
- Budget:
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$325,476
- Category:
-
Housing
- Population Served:
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Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
The Homeless Youth Initiative helps homeless high school students who are 18 to 20 years old and alone. These young people do not have the support of a parent or guardian and are struggling to stay in school. Housing is provided through host homes, small rent subsidies and in a supervised single-family home. Life skills, counseling and tutoring is also provided.
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Request for In-Kind Contributions