ALTERNATIVE HOUSE

THE ABUSED AND HOMELESS CHILDREN'S REFUGE

ABOUT US

Alternative House Mission & Vision

Alternative House, founded in 1972, provides support to at-risk children, youth and families through counseling, shelter, crisis intervention and neighborhood outreach.  Our programs recognize that families are interdependent and that a crisis or challenge facing one family member affects everyone.  We therefore empower children, teens and families to work together and build on their strengths. 

How We Got Started

Alternative House began as the first emergency shelter for runaway teenagers in Northern Virginia. A group of McLean based churches acknowledged the need for an emergency shelter for teens.  They opened their doors in the evenings to give teens a safe place to stay and when they realized the need was much larger than what they could handle, they supported the incorporation of Alternative House as a private non profit. Many important decisions, changes and additions have been made over the years that make Alternative House the place it is today.

Emergency Shelter for Teenagers: A History

Originally situated in a trailer on the grounds of Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, the Emergency Shelter for Teenagers moved to its own home on Gallows Road in 1974. Fifteen years later, the Shelter moved down the street to its current location at 2100 Gallows Road.  In 1990 the Northern Virginia Home Building Industry and Home Aid donated a renovation that doubled the size of the house.

Community Outreach Program: A History

In 1993 Alternative House expanded its services to reach out to lower-income and largely immigrant populations in Fairfax County. The Community Outreach Program began with two counselors walking through the Culmore, Springfield and Route 1 neighborhoods reaching out to young people on the streets providing them with food, clothing, supplies, counseling and support. This mobile outreach unit continues today. Additional recreational and educational services have been added to give young people safe places in which to spend their free time.  These programs help children and teens stay in school and improve their grades, while staying away from gangs, drugs and violent behavior.

Assisting Young Mothers: A History

In 2002 Alternative House expanded once again.  We resolved an unmet need by opening the Assisting Young Mothers (AYM) program, which provides shelter, counseling and support to homeless pregnant and parenting young women ages 16-24, and their children. AYM helps young mothers learn to budget their money, be nurturing parents, get their education and maintain employment.

Alternative House Today

Today in our 35^th year, Alternative House celebrates a diverse staff with a passion for helping young people and a dedication for making a positive difference in their lives. Alternative House is supported by devoted staff, volunteers, Board of Directors, and community members. We aspire to provide at-risk youth with positive alternatives to destructive activities and decisions. Our programs help give young people hope for brighter futures.