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Nonprofits present budget requests as Shenandoah County begins budget work
Summary
About two dozen nonprofits and local agencies presented program updates and funding requests to the Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors, asking for level funding or modest increases and outlining service impacts across housing, behavioral health, senior services and public safety.
Shenandoah County heard presentations Tuesday from local nonprofits and regional service providers seeking continued or increased county funding as officials begin budget deliberations. Presenters described how county support leverages other dollars and keeps services operating for residents with behavioral‑health needs, seniors, people experiencing housing instability and other vulnerable groups.
Northwestern Community Services asked the board to hold its contribution steady while outlining a $26 million annual budget that the presenter said is funded roughly 50% by state and federal sources, 40% by Medicaid and 10% locally. "We are asking this year to stay at level funding," the Northwestern speaker said, stressing prevention work and crisis services such as the 988 suicide‑crisis line. The presenter noted prevention programs including distribution of Deterra medication disposal bags and other outreach that serve Shenandoah County residents.
Several homeless‑service providers described rising demand and specific funding requests. Family Promise said it worked with 50 families last year to prevent eviction and asked the county for funds covering roughly a quarter of its four‑program budget (the organization's annual program budget was described as about $122,000). Shadow Alliance for Shelter requested a 30% increase to sustain a transitional housing program for people with high barriers to housing; executive director Katie Furniss said local rents rose about 24% between 2018 and 2023, increasing pressure on shelter and diversion services.
Concerned Hotline, a 24/7 suicide‑prevention lifeline, told the board it has received international certification and that it will become a 988 answering center for parts of the northern valley beginning in May. "We will begin taking calls in May," Executive Director Rusty Holland said, noting training underway for new listeners and the agency's plans to serve Winchester, Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah and Page counties.
Other requests included $15,000 from the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival to restore a prior support level, $10,000 from Old Dominion ASAP (the impaired‑driving program) to maintain a county case manager, and $5,000 from Winchester Regional Airport for capital matching funds. Domestic‑violence shelter Our Response asked for $20,000 toward roughly $100,000 in one‑time capital improvements to make a newly purchased shelter secure and accessible.
Health and legal services also briefed supervisors. Blue Ridge Legal Services reported closing 70 Shenandoah County cases last fiscal year and requested $13,223 under a formula tied to low‑income population counts. The Lord Fairfax Health District presented a newly published community health assessment and requested a local contribution (about $309,770 reported in the presentation), and staff explained changes in the JLARC local‑match calculation that affect the county share.
Supervisors asked presenters clarifying questions, including how regional funding shares are calculated and how local investments are spent. No formal votes were taken; the session consisted of presentations and Q&A as the board compiles decisions for the county budget schedule.
