Many of you are familiar with the nonprofits that make up Arlington’s social safety net, including AFAC, the Arlington Free Clinic, PathForward (formerly A-SPAN) and Doorways. Collectively—and collaboratively—they provide essential services such as food, medical care, shelter and housing to our most vulnerable neighbors. Without this assistance, thousands of people in our community would be at even greater risk than they are today.
That’s why these are such grim times. The Trump administration’s cuts to federal programs and funding have made our local nonprofits’ important work much more difficult. Some organizations have already been “DOGEd”—adversely affected by funding cuts and left scrambling to raise money from other sources, sometimes at a moment’s notice. For others, the disruptions have created an environment of uncertainty and anxiety over what might be coming down the pike. Federal job cuts and the cancellation of federal contracts have also put pressure on corporate and private donors. So that’s the bad news.
The other bad news? The need for social services is (or will be) increasing because of cuts to rental and food assistance, Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs.
That’s why we decided to investigate how these policy shifts are playing out in Arlington. In our cover story, “Without a Net,” Eliza Tebo provides an in-depth look at the current state of affairs for our local nonprofits, their dedicated staffs and the people they serve. The pressures are profound and the forecast doesn’t look good. They need the community’s help more than ever.
In addition to the safety-net organizations in our cover story, there are many other nonprofits doing important work in our area. Please refer to our latest Guide to Giving for a rundown of some 40+ local nonprofits that provide services to the community. If you find one that inspires you, please consider donating your time or money. We’d like to extend our gratitude to the Arlington Community Foundation for helping us compile this helpful resource.
My role at Arlington Magazine has connected me to many of these groups. I’ve served (or still serve) on the boards of PathForward, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Center of Arlington, YMCA Arlington and the Arlington Community Foundation. I’m also on the Arlington Free Clinic’s community council and special gifts committee. I can vouch for the skill and dedication they bring to their important work.
I hope you find our November/December “Giving Back” issue to be helpful and informative. As always, we love hearing from you. I can be reached at greg.hamilton@arlingtonmagazine.com. Letters to the editor should be sent to jenny.sullivan@arlingtonmagazine.com. Thank you for being a reader. Have a great fall and holiday season.
Greg Hamilton, Publisher