In January 2022, the Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William, partnered with the Prince William County Government to administer $10 million of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding by 2024. The Human Services Alliance is a nonprofit association of human services providers that aid residents.

“As we move into this next phase of recovery from the pandemic, we are hoping to address some of the lasting impacts on our community. Many of the recipients chosen by the Greater Prince William Alliance address these impacts as well as continue to support our community into the future, “ said Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair-At-Large Ann Wheeler.

“While our previous grant programs have focused on COVID-19 relief, we are eager to shift our focus to addressing our community’s longer-term needs by investing in more lasting interventions,” said Chelsi Conaway, the executive director of the Alliance.

Through the Prince William County ARPA Community Grant Program’s first funding round, the Alliance used more than $6 million to award grants ranging from $10,000 to $300,000 to 33 nonprofit organizations to address the following COVID-19 recovery efforts: navigation for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance; utility assistance; access to mental and behavioral health assistance to include preventative medicine; employment support; childcare costs; emergency shelter; and administration for hunger relief programs.

Specifically, this first funding round will finance the following projects:

• ACTION in Community Through Service (ACTS) was awarded $298,733 to provide childcare and counseling for ACTS Domestic Violence clients and to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing, supplies, and equipment.
• All Saint’s Church was awarded $90,000 to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding supplies and equipment.
• Blue Ribbon Results Academy was awarded $300,000 to provide childcare.
• BRAWS was awarded $50,000 to provide underwear and menstrual supplies in support of employment.
• CASA, Inc. was awarded $250,000 to provide navigation services, application counseling, and referrals for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance to limited English proficiency individuals and immigrants.
• Centro de Apoyo Familiar was awarded $300,000 to provide navigation services, application counseling, and referrals for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance and to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing, supplies, and equipment.
• Crossroads Connection was awarded $50,700 to support the administration and operation of its community feeding assistance program by funding staffing, supplies, equipment, and space rental.
• Edu Futuro was awarded $300,000 to provide employment support and navigation services, application counseling, and referrals for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance.
• First Home Alliance was awarded $300,000 to providefinancial literacy education, one-on-one housing counseling and navigation services, application counseling, and referrals for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance.
• Formed Families Forward was awarded $55,000 to provide mental health support to families raising young children with or at risk for disabilities.
• George Mason University was awarded $300,000 to provide free mental health support in English and Spanish to Prince William County residents through an emotional support phone line, intervention screening, referrals, and counseling through the George Mason University Center for Psychological Services.
• Grace Life Community Church was awarded $300,000 to provide free mental health counseling and to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing, equipment, supplies, and the purchase of two vans.
• Greater Prince William Health Center was awarded $300,000 to provide free mental health counseling.
• HireGround was awarded $282,700 to provide professional skills training, job placement, and employment support.
• Muslim Association of Virginia was awarded $78,100 to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing and the construction of a walk-in freezer/refrigerator.
• New Creatures-In-Christ Ministries, Incorporated was awarded $300,000 to provide emergency shelter at extended-stay hotels; to provide navigation services, application counseling, and referrals for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance; and to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing and supplies.
• Northern Virginia Family Service was awarded $210,261 to provide navigation services, application counseling, and referrals for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance.
• Northern Virginia Food Rescue was awarded $10,900 to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding the purchase and installation of two commercial refrigerators.
• Northern Virginia Veterans Association was awarded $241,050 to provide navigation services, application counseling, and referrals for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance.
• Postpartum Support Virginia was awarded $60,000 to provide mental health support through a warmline, care coordination, and support groups for pregnant and perinatal people suffering from maternal mental health issues.
• Prince William County Community Foundation, Incorporated was awarded $203,920 to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing; equipment; space rental; marketing; the purchase of a van; storage, maintenance, and fuel for the C.H.O.W. Wagon and other food service vehicle.
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Triangle was awarded $300,000 to provide utility assistance.
• St. Thomas United Methodist Church was awarded $238,646 to provide direct financial assistance to Prince William County residents; a clothing closet with in-demand work clothes and diapers in support of employment and childcare access; and to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing, supplies, and equipment including a forklift.
• Streetlight Community Outreach Ministries was awarded $160,000 to provide utility assistance and emergency shelter at extended-stay hotels.
• Tenants and Workers United was awarded $295,805 to provide navigation services, application counseling, and referrals for rent, mortgage, and public benefits assistance.
• The Arc of Greater Prince William was awarded $92,410 to provide free mental health support to people with developmental disabilities.
• The Good News Community Food Kitchen was awarded $182,483 to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing, equipment, and supplies.
• The House, Incorporated was awarded $190,000 to support the administration and operation of their HANGRY Truck community feeding assistance program by funding staffing; equipment; supplies; and the purchase and installation of a walk-in commercial refrigerator.
• The Women’s Center, Incorporated was awarded $92,680 to provide free mental health counseling to women, children, men, families, and teens.
• Virginia Community Food Connections was awarded $150,000 to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program at area farmers’ markets by funding staffing, marketing, and supplies.
• Woodbridge First Church of the Nazarene (Woodbridge Nazarene) was awarded $300,000 to support the administration and operation of their community feeding assistance program by funding staffing; supplies; and the purchase and construction of a walk-in commercial freezer/refrigerator.
• Woodbridge Workers Committee was awarded $85,902 to provide utility assistance.
• Youth For Tomorrow New Life Center was awarded $300,000 to provide free mental health counseling and psychiatric medication management for children, adolescents, and adults.

The second round of funding will distribute the remainder of the $10 million in early 2023. The community is invited to learn more about the Prince William County ARPA Community Grant Program, partner organizations, and the services they will provide during a virtual project showcase on April 29 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. To register or to learn more about the grant program in general, visit www.alliancegpw.org/arpa.