Virginia megachurch donates $1M to wipe out rent for 300+ families and keep them from being evicted

When Alexandria, Virginia's mayor, Alyia Gaskins, learned that the city's public housing agency owed $1 million in back rent, about 450 tenants faced eviction. Gaskins told NBC Washington that some people owed as little as $50, while others owed nearly $30,000.

The Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority (ARHA) manages over 1,000 public housing units. If these families were evicted, the city would face a huge crisis. ARHA reported losing over $1 million in unpaid rent from 445 units. They blamed job market problems, rising living costs, and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Community Steps Up

Gaskins sought advice from the Mayor’s Interfaith Council. Rev. Howard-John Wesley of Alfred Street Baptist Church responded. The church decided to donate $1 million to cover the back rent for those in need.

Alfred Street Baptist Church is a historically Black church that has served the community since 1803. Its congregation raised the money through their annual SEEK action, a time of fasting and prayer held earlier in 2026.

"It is my joy to share with you that after doing the audits and the ledgers and speaking with all the families and verifying debt, I want to let you know that with that SEEK offering, you have helped stop the eviction of 338 families to the cost of $1,049,000," Wesley announced during a service.

Wesley told the Washington Post that every penny goes to help others. He believes that as God changes lives, people are empowered to change the lives of others.

Ensuring Lasting Change

The church's donation will go to ACT for Alexandria, a local nonprofit. This group will then give the funds to ARHA after checking the confirmed balances of residents facing eviction. Mark Jinks, chair of the ARHA board, said the agency will hire an independent accountant to ensure the funds are distributed correctly.

Photo courtesy of Alfred Street Baptist Church

Beyond clearing the debt, the church and Interfaith Council will meet individually with each resident who fell behind on rent. They will help residents create plans and provide resources to prevent future issues. Other local churches, like Shiloh Baptist, will also join this effort. These faith groups will help fund follow-up services, such as food banks and job skills training.

Rev. Taft Quincey Heatley of Shiloh Baptist Church told NBC Washington that helping neighbors and those in need is a duty.

Gaskins also said that issues within the housing authority will be addressed. Last year, the city fired ARHA's chief executive officer for living in one of the agency’s units while 38,000 people were on a waiting list. Gaskins stated that ARHA must implement new internal systems and staff to prevent similar problems in the future.

Wesley knew about these leadership issues but did not want internal politics to stop them from helping people. He told NBC Washington that people want to be part of something bigger than themselves. He added that this is a way to make a difference in a world that often seems harsh to those in poverty.