Zaid MastouCarpenter’s Shelter, in the heart of Alexandria, will celebrate a milestone today by ribbon-cutting its freshly renovated Alexandria Community Shelter (ACS) at 2355 B Mill Road.
According to the organization, the event, which includes an open house from 2 to 4 p.m., “marks a pivotal moment for the city’s homeless community. “
The redesign aimed to create comfortable and safe living spaces, encourage community, and support healing and mental well-being.
“At Carpenter’s Shelter, we believe that people respond to their environment. It is great to see how these changes add a warm and serene feeling for our residents as they navigate through a very trying time,” stated Carpenter’s Shelter Executive Director Shannon Steene in a statement shared with The Wash.
“When Carpenter’s Shelter first assumed the operations of ACS in December 2023, the walls were industrial gray, and the building was dark. With this makeover, the shelter is brighter and has a more comfortable atmosphere that feels more like a home,” said Steene
In March 2023, the City of Alexandria entrusted Carpenter’s Shelter with managing operations at ACS, a 64-bed facility.
This partnership underscores the city’s recognition of the shelter’s impactful work. Both shelters provide emergency residential services, while ACS also hosts a winter shelter program that offers 50 additional beds during the cold months, ensuring no one is left vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.
In addition to shelter, Residents receive meals, toiletries, baby supplies, and other essentials. “Our goal is to meet their basic needs while helping them move toward stability,” said Michiko Yoon, a communications specialist for the organization.
Yoon said the Carpenter’s Shelter offers job coaching, educational scholarships, and on-site therapeutic services.
“It aims to address the root causes of homelessness and create lasting change,” She told The Wash,“The Leeford Junior Educational Scholarship supports residents pursuing education or certifications, such as nursing or CDL licensing. In fiscal year 2024, $20,367 was awarded to five recipients.”
According to Yoon, this program includes financial support for moving expenses and assistance in finding employment.
Carpenter’s Shelter began in the basement of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church when a priest welcomed two homeless individuals seeking refuge from the cold.
“What started as a small act of kindness evolved into a nonprofit organization serving over 900 individuals annually across multiple programs,” said Yoon
Carpenter’s Shelter also operates David’s Place, a day shelter for chronically homeless individuals. Open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, it offers laundry facilities, showers, snacks, and referrals to housing programs.
In a document shared with The Wash, last year, Carpenter’s Shelter delivered over $1 million in rental assistance subsidies through its Rapid Re-Housing program, helping clients secure stable housing.
Hajar Aboueddahab
So there are less than 64 homeless people in Alexandria/Rapides Parish during the warmer months of the year and less than 114 during the winter months as well? Nice to know the problem itself is small in comparison to other metropolian areas of similar size then.
William,
Carpenter’s Shelter serves more than 900 individuals at both The Hoffman Center and Alexandria Community Shelter (ACS). We also have a long wait list of individuals who want to come into our emergency residential shelters. That includes the residents in shelter, as well as the community graduates that we have moved into affordable housing that still receive case management services. We serve both families and single individuals who have nowhere else to go either because they fell behind on rent, were sleeping in their cars or were living on the street. If you would like to support Carpenter’s Shelter, visit CarpentersShelter.org/Ways-To-Give.