A nutritious evening meal is served to families and individuals who are homeless, living in and around four sites along Lee Highway in Fairfax, 365 days per year. Individuals who walk up can go to either Thomas Somerville (9825 Lee Highway) at 6:15PM or Stor-All Storage (11199 Waples Mill Rd.) at 6:30PM. Outreach is conducted with FACETS’ Outreach worker and Registered Nurse who team to identify new persons in need of services.
FACETS volunteers, mostly from our faithpartner communities, serve
a hot, nutritious meal to an average of 88 homeless individuals
living in motels and on the streets each evening, or approximately 32,400 each year. Each night, one team prepares the meals in a Board
of Health approved kitchen and a second team delivers the meals
in a FACETS van.
In
addition to providing nutritious food, the meals are an opportunity
for FACETS volunteers to meet homeless people and refer them to
a social worker. This is a volunteer-intensive effort as more than
300 volunteers participate from 30 faith partners.
Case Management
FACETS' Case Management is available to individuals and families who are homeless or precariously housed in Fairfax County including families referred from the Fairfax County Shelter Waitlist, single adults, households participating in the Home Connections Transitional Supportive Housing Program, and persons who require extended stabilization supports upon obtaining stable, affordable housing. Through a professional social work relationship, case management includes obtaining a complete client assessment of strengths and needs, connecting persons with available community resources, and supporting individuals and families who are homeless or precariously housed with achieving goals necessary to obtain permanent housing.
Outreach Support Services
FACETS’ Outreach Support Services meet basic needs for individuals and families who are homeless or precariously housed in Fairfax County. Through FACETS' Outreach efforts, two motel sites are visited by a FACETS’ social worker at least twice weekly for on-site social work support, and Hot Meals street outreach by FACETS’ Outreach Worker and Nurse Practitioner at least once weekly, to identify new homeless men, women and children and offer services. Additional Outreach activities are also conducted routinely with community partners.
Walk-in Referral and Emergency Services
- Emergency food and hygience supplies
- Referrals to area food pantries for follow-up food needs
- Referrals to area clothing closets
- Use of FACETS' phone and computer station
- Information and referral for medical needs, parenting, ESL, budgeting, job search, shelter or other housing resources, holiday assistance, and more.
Client Resource Center 
FACETS’ Client Resource Center provides social workers, through scheduled rotation, to respond to persons contacting FACETS, by phone or office visit, without appointment. Social Workers are available all business hours to provide basic needs, supports, and use of FACETS’ phone and computer station. The Resource Center in FACETS' office provides a comfortable environment to work on resumes and letters, conduct conducting housing and employment searches, improve computer skills and use the phone.
Home Connections Transitional Supportive Housing
Transitional Supportive Housing provides a rental apartment and social work services for approximately two years. Individuals and families have the skills and commitment that, with support, will enable them to live independently after that time. The homeless individual/family works intensively with a FACETS social worker on setting and reaching goals that lead to a successful result. This part of Home Connections was initiated 8 years ago.
Currently, FACETS operates seven Transitional Supportive Housing apartments, which houses 24 individuals. This incredible program provides families with housing, supportive counseling, and the tools and opportunities individuals need to get their life back on track.
Home Connections Permanent Supportive Housing
The Permanent Supportive Housing Program provides long-term housing and social work services for individuals and families that are currently homeless. The families and individuals are chosen using a “Housing First” approach, which focuses on developing a positive and trusting relationship with a FACETS social worker and the community. Goals are established that yield the maximum degree of independence for the participant(s). Although this is a new program, it builds on FACETS’ experience with the Transitional Supportive Housing Program, which provides individuals and families with housing and social work services for approximately two years, as well as the Hypothermia Prevention Response Program, which provides shelter and meals for individuals throughout the winter.
Program Highlights:
- Participants work with a volunteer mentor
- Participants contribute 30% of their income for rent
- Participants pay off debt/save approximately 10% of their income
- Using an independence plan, participants move toward increased independence and quality of life
- There is NO limit on housing!
With the strong support of FACETS’ Home Connectors and the generosity of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, which is renting its parsonage to FACETS’ Home Connections Permanent Supportive Housing program at a discounted rate, FACETS moved the first family into their permanent home at the beginning of February. Because of the outpouring of generosity from all of our volunteers and donors, the children in this family will be able to grow up in a wonderful house and experience all of the warmth and comfort that every child deserves.
In addition, due to the overwhelming support of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, which raised $50,000 to support a new family in the Home Connections Transitional Supportive Housing Program and $10,000 for Permanent Supportive Housing, FACETS moved another family into their new apartment at the beginning of February. UUCF’s extraordinary effort to help end homelessness in Fairfax County is evident in their many contributions and is helping to make the Supportive Housing Program a notable success. Thank you!
In the next two weeks, FACETS plans to move 10 more individuals out of homelessness and into homes through our Home Connections Permanent Supportive Housing program. Many of these individuals are currently living on the streets and are guests in the Hypothermia Prevention Response program, spending their days in search of warmth. It is our hope that, through permanent housing, they will never again have to experience the bitter cold that so many are suffering from today.
Please click here to read more about "Housing First" and FACETS' Home Connections Supportive Housing Programs.
To read about news articles relating to "Housing First," please click here.
Hypothermia Prevention Response Program
FACETS’ Hypothermia Prevention Response Program kicked off its fourth year in December as FACETS once again partnered with Fairfax County and area faith communities to shelter and feed the men and women who are homeless during the cold winter months. The support for the program amongst FACETS’ faith partners was overwhelming this year, with churches signing up to host and provide meals throughout the winter before FACETS had even advertised the need! Thank you!
In an effort to make the experience as seamless as possible for guests, this year’s program structure differs from previous years. In the past, area faith communities provided shelter and meals for individuals who were homeless throughout the winter, typically hosting for one week, with guests being transported by bus to the venue. In contrast, this year the faith communities will be supporting a single location in Seven Corners. Operated by Volunteers of America, Chesapeake, the permanent Hypothermia Prevention Response shelter was opened on December 1, 2007 and served as the primary location for guests during the first six weeks of the program. Throughout this period, FACETS’ volunteers from area faith communities cooked and served delicious hot dinners, provided breakfast, bagged lunches, and fellowship for the guests.
On January 13, 2008 the second phase of the program began and faith communities not only continued to provide all of the meals for the guests at Seven Corners location, they also served as overflow venues for individuals who were unable to find space at the permanent shelter. The Hypothermia Prevention Response Program will continue through March 31, 2008 and strives to ensure that everyone has a warm place to sleep throughout the winter, nourishing meals, and the fellowship of friends. It would not be possible without the overwhelming generosity of the faith community in Fairfax County and FACETS is so appreciative of all of their support this year.
Hypothermia Articles: Hot Food Out of the Cold
Churches Make Space for Shelter
Homemade Food is Back on the Menu
Ban on Home-cooked Food in Shelters (repealed)
We
need your help. There are opportunities for you to get
involved with FACETS' Homeless Intervention Services. Work one-on-one
with a family. Help us leverage staff time by reading and playing
with children, preparing adults for their GED exam, helping with pre-employment skills and more. Host a toy or food drive at your
office or collect back-to-school backpacks for homeless children.
Call us with your ideas of how you'd like to help homeless children
and adults in your community. We are interested in hearing from
you! Get involved today by contacting FACETS volunteer office at
(703) 352-3268 or send an email
to us today! Training and support is offered.
For
more information about our homeless intervention services including Hypothermia, please
contact Caralita Moore or by phone at 703-352-5090.
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