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Helping our Veterans Have a Place to Call Home: Success Stories from the VASH Program
Every November, we observe Veterans Day, a time to reflect on and honor the service and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans. Sadly, many veterans experience homelessness after concluding their service to their country. Two such veterans, Johnny Briscoe and Garnett Heilig, have transitioned from homelessness to having “having a place to call home” through a partnership between the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (VASH) program. VASH provides rental assistance vouchers to vets who are also receiving supportive services from the VA.
Click here to read the full article.
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
Partnership in Action:
Christian Relief Services, Fairfax County and “A Place to Call Home”
Christian Relief Services and Fairfax County have a long-standing, successful partnership to provide housing and services to homeless families. Christian Relief Services (CRS), a non-profit organization, uses Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other federal funding provided by Fairfax County for its Homeless Transitional Housing program. The goal of this program, which began in 1993, is to bridge the gap when permanent housing is not available at the time the household leaves an emergency shelter. The program provides opportunities for motivated participants to obtain the necessary skills, income, and services to obtain permanent housing and achieve self-sufficiency. As a part of the program, CRS provides clients with case management, support services, budgeting and financial management counseling.
CRS owns 45 scattered site properties through out the county, which are used to provide transitional housing for formerly homeless households exiting emergency shelters, including seniors, persons with disabilities and victims of domestic violence. Most recently, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) has used federal funding to finance the acquisition and/or rehabilitation by CRS of three properties, which provide seven beds of permanent supportive housing.
Click here to read the full article
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011
A Great Way to Give Back: Donate to Your Local Food Bank
As the holidays and winter approach, our thoughts turn to our families and friends - and to those in need throughout our community.
As area food bank supplies decrease, the demand for services is rising during this time of year. Help those in need by donating to your local food bank. Please donate non-perishable items that are in unopened containers. Click here to read the full article.
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011
From Homeless to a Place Called Home
A Bridging Affordability Success Story
Sometimes the journey home can be a long one, as Rashon Allen, 30, can attest. Rashon recently became one of the first individuals to rent a home through Fairfax County’s new Bridging Affordability Program, thanks to his hard work and the assistance of Volunteers of America Chesapeake.
Rashon’s Story: Beginning at age 14, Rashon Allen found himself in and out of institutions and jail. More recently, Rashon was homeless and moving from shelter to shelter – or sleeping on the street. Volunteers of America Chesapeake (VOAC) began working with Rashon, and helped him find safety at the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter. (VOAC is a member of the Northern Virginia Family Service Collaborative, which administers the Bridging Affordability Program on behalf of Fairfax County).
Click here to read the full article.
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011
Partnerships in Action: The Bridging Affordability Program
Working Together to Move People from Hope to Home
“Bridging Affordability” is an innovative new program developed as part of the County’s Blueprint for affordable housing. The Bridging Affordability program provides rental subsidies for homeless individuals and families, those with disabilities, as well as households currently on the waiting lists for Fairfax County’s housing programs.
Fairfax County is operating the Bridging Affordability Program through a $3.8 million contract with Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS), which is leading a collaborative of nine non-profit organizations. The collaborative includes NVFS, Alternative House, FACETS, Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, New Hope Housing, Reston Interfaith, Shelter House, United Community Ministries and Volunteers of America Chesapeake. The collaborative will provide rental subsidies and an array of supportive services to program participants.
Click here to read the full article
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011
The Bridge from Hope to Home
Helping People in Need Apply for the Bridging Affordability Program
Is someone you know homeless? Do you or a loved one have a disability and need housing assistance? Are you on one of Fairfax County’s waiting lists for affordable housing? If so, the Bridging Affordability program may be able to help. Bridging Affordability provides rental assistance to qualified households, through a contract with Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS).
Who to Call: If you (or someone you are helping) are currently homeless in Fairfax County and/or on a county waiting list for affordable housing, call NVFS at 703-219-2183.
What Happens Next: If determined eligible for the Bridging Affordability program, NVFS and its partners will work with participants to secure affordable rental housing and can provide services to assist families in achieving economic self-sufficiency.
Friday, June 24, 2011
West Ford Community Celebrates Father’s Day
Fathers – and father figures – play an irreplaceable role in the lives of children. To celebrate the importance of this role, the residents of the West Ford community (Mount Vernon District) partnered with the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) PROGRESS Center, other county agencies and the schools to host a Father’s Day event on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Click here to read full article.
Friday, June 24, 2011
HCD Deputy Director Mary Stevens to Retire
On July 1, the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development will bid a fond farewell to Mary Stevens, Deputy Director, as she retires after 24 years of service to the citizens of Fairfax County. During her tenure with the county, Mary has worked with the Reston Community Center, the Department of Management and Budget and the Office of the County Executive, but spent the bulk of her career with HCD, first as Director of Public Affairs, then as Deputy Director. Through her work, Mary has touched the lives of thousands of people in the Fairfax community. Click here to read full article.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Neighbors Going Hungry: How You Can Help
What if you had to make the choice between food and medication, or food and paying this month’s rent? Unfortunately, there are many families and individuals in Fairfax County who have to make those very difficult decisions each day. Especially as the economy struggles to recover and jobs and homes have been lost, many in the Fairfax community are struggling to meet the basic necessities of life. Click here to read full article.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club Makes Generous Gift to the Lincolnian Senior Residences
Community action is often born of a clear need that becomes, through the efforts of an individual or small group, a mission to be accomplished. Such was the case with the Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club whose thoughtfulness and generosity will assist with replacement of worn-out courtyard furniture at the Lincolnian Senior Residences, an affordable senior housing community in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County.
The courtyard furniture, which has been well-used by the residents for many years, is showing signs of age. Upon learning of the need to replace the furniture, Mr. Robert Glasser, treasurer of the Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club, advocated for the cause with his fellow club members. Thanks to Mr. Glasser’s efforts, the Rotary Club and some of its members individually made donations totaling more than $2,900 toward the purchase of new courtyard furniture.
The Rotary Club presented their checks on May 20 to Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross and Mason District FCRHA Commissioner Robert H. Schwaninger, who attended the monthly Rotary meeting at Goodwin House.
Many thanks to Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club and Mr. Glasser for their generosity and caring! The residents at the Lincolnian Residences are looking forward to enjoying their new courtyard furniture very soon.
About the Lincolnian Senior Residences: Lincolnian Senior Residences is a senior living community comprised of 26 affordable rental apartments and 52 beds of assisted living. The rental apartments are affordable to low and moderate income seniors age 62 and over; the assisted living portion of the property serves seniors age 62 and over, and persons with disabilities aged 55 and over. The Lincolnian Senior Residences are operated by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The property also includes a senior center which offers exercise classes, table games and other social activities and cultural enrichment events, and an Adult Day Health Care Program, to the residents of the Lincolnian and the surrounding community.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Partnerships in Action: Reston Interfaith, Graceful Spaces and Fairfax County Working Together to Provide a Home for Large Family in Crisis
On Wednesday, May 18, Reston Interfaith Housing Corporation (RIHC) hosted an open house event at a townhouse it recently acquired in the Town of Herndon. The townhouse was renovated using environmentally friendly materials and technologies.
The acquisition, renovation and leasing of the unit are the product of a unique partnership between Reston Interfaith, the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) and Graceful Spaces, a local volunteer organization that assists with acquiring household furnishings for lower income residents. RIHC acquired the unit as affordable housing using federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds awarded by Fairfax County. HCD’s Home Improvement Loan Program (HILP) provided funding to facilitate the renovation. The acquisition and rehabilitation funding was provided as loans by the FCRHA. RIHC renovated the townhouse in collaboration with Graceful Spaces, along with other volunteer groups.
Click here to read the full article...
Friday, May 20, 2011
Living the Spirit of Public Service: Fairfax County’s Home Repair for the Elderly Staff
Earlier this month, Fairfax County celebrated Public Service Recognition Week, highlighting the dedication of public employees to making our community a great place to live. Dedication to public service is clearly evident among the staff of the Fairfax County’s Home Repair for the Elderly Program (HREP).
The ultimate mission of HREP is to enable low-income seniors and persons with disabilities to stay in their homes and maintain their independence. HREP achieves this mission by providing income-eligible seniors and persons with disabilities minor home repairs or accessibility modifications free of charge. Click here to read the full article.
Finding a Helping Hand: Fairfax County’s Human Services Resource Guide
Did you know that Fairfax County maintains an online database of human services organizations that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to anyone with internet access? The Human Services Resource Guide is a database of public, non-profit, and some private for-profit organizations that provide human services to Fairfax County residents. The database includes descriptions of services provided, access criteria, location and contact information among other information. The Guide was designed and is maintained by county Human Services professionals, and is updated on an ongoing basis.
To access the Human Services Resource Guide, please click on the following link: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rim/default.asp. Visitors to the site are able to search by a service category and/or organization name.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Virginia’s Livable Home Tax Credit: Increasing Accessible Housing Options
The Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) program provides state tax credits for building, purchasing, or remodeling homes and incorporating accessibility and universal design features. This year, the Virginia General Assembly increased the LHTC from $2,000 to $5,000 and expanded eligibility for the credit to include home builders to further encourage expansion of accessible housing opportunities.
New Construction: To qualify for the tax credit, a new home must include at least three universal design features.
Existing Homes: To qualify for the tax credit, an existing home must include at least one universal design feature.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Out of Many Challenges, a Place to Call Home at Olley Glen Senior Residences
Especially in the most difficult circumstances, finding a place to call home can mean a whole new life, as one resident of the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s (FCRHA) new Olley Glen Senior Residences has discovered.
The resident had a thriving twelve-year career as an attorney, in spite of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1988. In 1992, however, she suffered debilitating effects from the disease and was forced to go on disability. The resident found herself in and out of nursing homes before deciding to move in with a sibling in upstate New York – a living situation which sadly became exploitative. She soon was forced to sign her assets over to her sibling, including a 401K retirement account, an insurance policy, and her condominium. Instead of keeping the resident’s assets safe, her sibling sold off her property and spent all of her hard earned money. Left with no money or transportation, the resident moved in with friends.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Partnerships in Action: HCD’s PROGRESS Center Teams Up with the Family Nutrition Program to Offer Healthy Cooking Classes to Residents at West Ford
The Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) PROGRESS Center (Partnership for Resident Opportunities, Growth, Resources and Economic Self-Sufficiency) is partnering with the Family Nutrition Program (FNP) to help address the nutrition needs of low income adults and youth living at West Ford. West Ford is a 105-unit federal Public Housing property owned by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and located in Alexandria, Virginia.
The FNP program is funded under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and as a part of the Fairfax Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension. The FNP program coordinates 6-week classes to residents at West Ford on how to cook for healthy weight and lifestyle, stretching food dollars and food stamps, preparing food safely, and preventing chronic disease through nutrition education. The FNP program provides food and teaches residents how to cook healthy meal options. Classes are offered free of cost to residents. The PROGRESS Center hopes to expand this program to other communities in Fairfax County.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Fairfax County Partners in PROGRESS
The Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development’s (HCD) newest initiative, the PROGRESS Center (Partnership for Resident Opportunities, Growth, Resources and Economic Self-Sufficiency) addresses obstacles to a household’s journey towards self-sufficiency. In an effort to provide useful resources for residents seeking job opportunities, the PROGRESS Center has partnered with SkillSource, a non-profit entity of the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board. The PROGRESS Center refers tenants of and applicants to Fairfax County affordable housing programs to the SkillSource centers for job readiness skills and also refers contractors, businesses, and non-profit partners to SkillSource to help them meet hiring expectations in federally-funded housing programs. In turn, SkillSource works with HCD’s partners to help them hire qualified individuals and works with our tenants and applicants to help them find employment.
Click here to read the full article...
Friday, March 25, 2011
Herndon Harbor House – A Caring Community
In this tough economy, many people across the nation have suffered job losses which led to the loss of their home. Such conditions can be especially difficult for seniors who are at or near retirement, as one current resident at the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s Herndon Harbor House can attest. (Herndon Harbor House, a senior housing community located in Herndon, Virginia, offers affordable retirement living for seniors with low and moderate incomes).
Click here to read the full article...
Friday, March 25, 2011
Getting a Helping Hand with the Housing Process: “Third-Party” Authorizations
Sometimes managing the information and process required for participating in Fairfax County’s federal Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs can appear complicated and challenging. Do you or a loved one need help with this process? If so, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) has a way for applicants and participants in its programs to designate a trusted “third party” – a friend, relative, caseworker – to receive notices about their housing.
Third-party authorization is a voluntary process that can be used by any applicant to or participant in the Housing Choice Voucher, Public Housing and Fairfax County Rental Programs. The federal form to designate a third-party is available on our website at: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/rentalhousingprograms/hud92006.pdf.
Friday, Feb. 18, 2011
A Silver Lining for Clients of Pathway Homes
Sometimes even the most dire situation can have a silver lining. This is truly the case for Pathway Homes, a non-profit organization serving persons with disabilities. The recent economic downturn resulted in historic levels of foreclosure in the county. While each foreclosure was a personal loss for someone, some good has come from the otherwise tragic situation. Through federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds and the county’s “Silver Lining” program, Pathway Homes was able to buy foreclosed homes at below market prices and make them home for 25 individuals.
Friday, Feb. 18, 2011
HCD’s PROGRESS Center Already Making a Difference In Resident Lives
In 2010, the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) developed the Partnership for Resident Opportunities, Growth, Resources and Economic Self-Sufficiency (PROGRESS) Center - a resource to assist tenants of and applicants to Fairfax County affordable housing programs to reach their goals of self-sufficiency. Staffed by existing employees with a rich background and experience in HCD housing programs and human services, the PROGRESS Center’s approach includes: intervention to address difficult resident crises and client issues; collaboration with Human Services agencies and non-profits to coordinate needed services and assistance; and efforts to give residents a second chance who may be facing eviction by showing them ways to resolve their issues.
Click here to read the full article...
Friday, Feb. 18, 2011
Olley Glen Senior Residences –Fairfax County’s Newest Senior Community
Olley Glen, a 90-unit apartment community, located off Little River Turnpike in Fairfax, is currently accepting applications for immediate occupancy. Income limits apply. The first residents started moving into Olley Glen in October and the property is quickly leasing up!
Olley Glen features a beautifully landscaped courtyard, washer and dryer in each unit, and universal design features throughout the property. Rent includes all utilities (except cable).
Click here to read the full article...