PathForward announced March 11 that it will receive $1,342,704 in Federal funding for purchase of Siebert House. Siebert House is an 8-unit apartment building located in the Westover area of Arlington which currently houses chronically homeless people. 

Betsy Frantz, President and CEO of PathForward, explains every homeless person has different needs, and they don’t all do well in the same kind of housing.  Some don’t have the life skills to be independent; some don’t do well in congregate settings; some don’t qualify for certain services. And, she says, the shelter is not designed for long-term housing. The goal is to move every homeless person into an appropriate permanent housing solution.

Siebert House was opened in 2019 to meet the needs of a part of the homeless population who for whatever reason wouldn’t qualify to be housed and need extra support. While the homeless person is at Siebert House, they receive support from a life skills coach who may assist with such needs as handling anxiety or everyday coping skills. The goal is for the person to gain stability and to establish a rental history that will appeal to a potential landlord.   

Frantz stated, “Handing the keys to newly housed clients is just the first step to stability and dignity for them.  To remain housed, they require individualized services including regular medical and mental healthcare and ongoing case management.”

Frantz says these eight apartments are intended to house homeless clients until they have established a good rental history and are able to move into permanent housing.  She says it helps more than eight people because they will be replaced by eight others “and we are just starting to see this turnover since Covid intervened after the first homeless had moved in.”

Frantz says PathForward went to Congressman Don Beyer for assistance in the Federal appropriations process, “and he thought we had a good proposal. He has always been there for the most vulnerable. He is such a respected leader that it makes a big difference.” 

Frantz says with this Federal funding they will be able to pay off the debt on the apartment building and use the money they were spending to pay down debt on upkeep and repair of the building as it ages. 

“It makes a big difference.”

PathForward’s mission is to transform lives by delivering housing solutions and pathways to stability for people experiencing homelessness in Arlington. They operate the Homeless Services Shelter which houses 50 clients as well as support homeless individuals who have transitioned to individual residences. PathForward was founded as A-SPAN in 1992.