The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties recently granted $25,710 to Loudoun Cares to fund rental assistance efforts for Loudoun residents.
Funding came from the Community Foundation’s Community Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) established in March 2020 to collect and disburse funds to address needs related to COVID-19 and other community-wide events or disasters.
During 2020, an initial grant from the CERF helped launch a COVID-19 Helpline providing financial assistance to qualified Loudoun residents and operated through a collaborative partnership between Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington and Loudoun Cares.
Since summer 2021, an influx of state and federal funding supported nonprofits’ COVID recovery efforts and bolstered local nonprofits’ ability to respond to the ever-growing requests for rental assistance from Loudoun residents unable to make rent.
However, the state-funded rental relief program ended in May 2022, and local nonprofits exhausted currently available federal grant funding in June 2022. The current lack of funding resources combined with rising inflation, increasing rental rates, and the eviction moratorium ending has led to a sharp increase in requests for help.
Valerie Pisierra, Executive Director of Loudoun Cares, reports a 170% increase in rental assistance requests this summer between June and August, compared to the spring between March and May. She cites receiving an average 65-75 requests for help per month now during the summer months, compared to 20-30 rental requests per month during the spring 2022.
“Prior to May 15 we were able to refer residents to state funded programs. Now the burden falls on our local nonprofits and their supporters to help,” said Pisierra. “With evictions rising because of increased rents, more and more families are facing housing insecurity. If we don’t acknowledge this problem as a community we are going to face even bigger issues with families becoming homeless on the street. We are so thankful for the Community Foundation for recognizing that housing should always come first.”
“Since 2020, the CERF has granted almost $350,000 for community recovery efforts, the majority dedicated to rental assistance to Loudoun residents dealing with the economic impact of the pandemic,” said Nicole Acosta, Vice President of Grants and Nonprofit Programs for the Community Foundation. “We’ve continued supporting rental assistance through the CERF over the last two years because we know the ripple effect of the pandemic is still very much affecting working families. We’re concerned that the needs are continuing to grow, especially around rental assistance and housing.”
To donate to the Community Emergency Relief Fund, visit https://communityfoundationlf.org/covid-19/.
To donate to Loudoun Cares, visit https://www.loudouncares.org/.
About the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties
Founded in 1999 by local volunteers, the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designed to accelerate community giving for common good in Loudoun and northern Fauquier counties, surrounding areas and across the nation. Since its inception, the Community Foundation has granted more than $13 million. Donors who include the Community Foundation in their philanthropic vision benefit from low fees, knowledgeable staff, and personal assurance that legal and accounting issues are managed under one cost-effective banner: the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties. CommunityFoundationLF.org (703) 779-3505. www.communityfoundationlf.org
Press Inquiries
Contact Nicole Acosta, Vice President of Grants and Nonprofit Programs, at [email protected] or 703-779-3505, x3.
