Council held a public hearing on a community‑science evaluation of the Alexandria Fund for Human Services (AFHS) and gave staff direction to work with nonprofits and stakeholders over the summer to implement the report’s recommendations.

Speakers from the nonprofit and philanthropic communities supported the report’s core recommendations: create a funding framework that distinguishes survival (urgent basic needs), stability (short‑term case management and housing stabilization) and thriving (longer‑term workforce and youth supports); increase AFHS funding (the current $1.9 million fund has not kept pace with demand); and consider using direct contracts to secure critical survival‑level services while preserving competitive grants for stabilizing and thriving programs. Alan Lomax, who has served on prior AFHS evaluations, called for fewer, larger grants and for an annual public report documenting program impact. Heather Peeler of ACT for Alexandria (Alexandria Community Foundation) urged increased funding, use of the survival/stability/thriving framework and collaborative design with nonprofit partners. Jorge Figueroa of EduFuturo recommended that the city ensure language access and cultural competence are explicit program criteria and that emergency services funding be additional to — not carved from — the existing grant pool.

Staff said the intent is to use the summer to consult with departments, nonprofits and community partners and to return in September with a revised application and an implementation plan for council consideration. Council members emphasized the importance of annual reporting back to council and the public and suggested staff provide sample report mockups when they return.

Ending: Council did not adopt an ordinance or budget change that day; instead, it endorsed staff and partners using the summer to shape updated program documents and to return to council with a recommended grant model and implementation timeline in the fall.