Friends of Guest House

 Friends of Guest House is a nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, VA that supports women returning to the community after incarceration. Founded in 1974, it is the only prison-to-community reentry program in Northern Virginia (and the largest in the state) designed specifically for women. To date, we have served over 5,400 women and their families.

Our mission is to provide formerly incarcerated women the structure, supervision, support, and assistance they need to move beyond who they were to become who they want to be. Our vision is simple but powerful: a world where a woman's past does not define her future. 

Second Chances Take Support

Successful recovery and reentry don't happen by accident. They take structure, training, housing, and community.

Each year, Guest House serves more than 300 women through our comprehensive, gender-responsive, trauma-informed model, which includes safe residential housing, case management, substance use disorder recovery services, workforce and life skills development, healthcare navigation, and family reunification support. Through our Recovery Haven program, women also receive clinically managed substance use treatment integrated into our residential services.

The need is urgent. More than 90% of the women we serve report a history of substance use disorder, and 100% enter our programs unemployed. Many have experienced significant trauma, unstable housing, and untreated health conditions. Without intentional support during reentry, the risks of relapse, homelessness, and reincarceration are very high.

When a woman walks through our doors, she isn't just looking for housing -- shes' looking for a second chance.

And second chances change lives. Among our graduates: 

• 85% do not return to incarceration, compared to a national recidivism rate of roughly 40%
• 87% abstain from substance use and develop a sobriety plan.
• 91% secure at least part-time permanent employment.
• 62% transition to stable housing.
• 82% comply with probation or parole terms.

Friends of Guest House provides a cost-effective, evidence-based solution that strengthens women, families, and communities.

Second chances take support. Spring2Action is your chance to help ensure that a woman's past does not define her future and to be part of the story of what comes next.

$0.91 of every $1 donated goes directly to programming costs, including meals, housing, transportation, client assistance, and much more.