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Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
3700 Pender Drive, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030
703-385-3662; Virginia Relay 711

Waiting List Hotline for Rental Housing, Public Housing Rental Program, and Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8 Program): 703-449-9050; TTY 703-385-3578. Call to find out which lists are open and accepting applications.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/housingguide.pdf

Services Offered

Find information about affordable housing at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/, including information about the Fairfax County Rental Program, Public Housing Rental Program, and the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly Section 8 Program).

The Low and Moderate Income Housing Guide provides a list of properties affordable to low and moderate income households, and describes the Fairfax County Public Housing and Section 8 waiting list system. The guide also gives a list of helpful hints for those who are searching for housing. The guide is available online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/housingguide.pdf or call 703-222-0880 (Virginia Relay 711) to request a copy.

Eligibility Requirements

Residents of Fairfax County or the cities of Fairfax or Falls Church.

Fees

No fees for the guide.

Contact/Referral Information

703-222-0880 for services in English and other languages. Virginia Relay 711.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services – Office for Children
703-449-8484; Virginia Relay 711
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/childcare

Services Offered

Helps families find and pay for child care; offers child care fee subsidies for low and moderate income working parents/kinship care relatives in participating child care centers and family child care homes. This program also serves children with special needs.

• For information on eligibility for financial assistance: 703-449-8484.
• For family child care providers and child care centers according to ZIP code, nearby school or neighborhood: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ofc.
• To print a CCAR application: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ofc.
• For listings of child care programs: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ofc; includes family child care homes (care in caregiver’s home) in which providers have a county permit or state license and provide full time or part-time care for children: and state-licensed child care centers, which provide full time or part-time child care for children.

Eligibility Requirements

Residents of Fairfax County or the cities of Fairfax or Falls Church; parent/kinship care relatives must be working/ in training program; income guidelines for sliding fee scale program.

Fees

Based on income, family size and number of children in care, and paid directly to providers. Depending on eligibility, families may pay only a portion of the weekly child care fee. The program may pay the remaining amount and a program registration fee for one year. Parents/kinship care relatives are responsible for all other charges, including overtime and late fees.

Fairfax DCSE District office: Fairfax Executive Park, 3953 Pender Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
1-800-468-8894; Virginia Relay 711
www.dss.virginia.gov/family/dcse.html
Call to help DCSE locate parents who are delinquent in their responsibilities: 1-800-257-9986

Services Offered

The Virginia Division of Child Support Enforcement:

• Provides child support enforcement services for custodial parents, noncustodial parents, guardians and dependent children who live in Virginia or whose child support orders were established in Virginia.
• Assists custodial parents, noncustodial parents, guardians and children with enforcement of child support orders through administrative and/or court action.
• May be used when a non-custodial parent has failed to comply with a support order.

Information and assistance is available in English, Farsi, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Clients must authorize DCSE to enforce a support obligation. Clients receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid authorize DCSE to enforce the support order in their application for benefits.

Eligibility Requirements

Those eligible to apply for DCSE services: Custodial parents, non-custodial parents and individuals, and agencies with physical custody of a child.

Fees

No fees for services.

Fairfax County Department of Systems Management for Human Services
Coordinated Services Planning (CSP)
8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m: for services in English and other languages.
703-222-0880; TTY 703-803-7914
After Hours: 211; Virginia Relay 711

Services Offered

Individuals and families receive information and assistance for emergency needs, such as food, clothing and furniture; transportation to medical appointments; rent or mortgage to prevent eviction or foreclosure; security deposits to secure permanent housing; utility payments to prevent disconnection; prescriptions, eye glasses, and other special needs. The Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) staff provides a central information and referral resource for human services in Fairfax County, including:

• Housing, food, clothing and transportation.
• Child care and care of elderly relatives and persons with disabilities.
• Health care services – medical, dental, pregnancy.
• Job training, employment, education, legal assistance, and English classes for speakers of other languages.
• Recreational activities for all ages and those with special needs.

Eligibility Requirements

Vary with services.

Fees

Vary with services.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Older Adult Services
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 708, Fairfax, VA 22035
703-324-7948; TTY 703-449-1186
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices

Services Offered

The Fan Care Program, an electric fan distribution program, is sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power in partnership with the Virginia Department for the Aging. It provides one electric fan or window air conditioner per eligible household to help older Fairfax area residents stay safe in the summer heat.

The program runs from June 1 - September 30.

Eligibility Requirements

A person must be at least 60 years old, meet income guidelines, and need a fan to prevent heat-related health problems. There is a limit of one fan per household.

Fees

No fees for this service.

Fairfax County Public Schools
703-813-4800; Virginia Relay 711 www.fcps.edu/fs/food/food_at_school/

• Free and Reduced-Price meals application information: 703-813-4844 or 703-813-4800; or contact your local school.
  www.fcps.edu/fs/food/food_at_school/free_reduced/
• Nutrition information: 703-813-4811; Virginia Relay 711
  www.fcps.edu/fs/food/food_at_school/nutrition.htm
• Ingredient information: 703-813-4811; Virginia Relay 711
  www.fcps.edu/fs/food/food_at_school/ingredientanalysis.pdf

Services Offered

Fairfax County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Program offers the following services to students:

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

• Free and Reduced-Price Meal applications sent to all homes in July and August.
• Translated applications available in schools.
• Applications online at www.fcps.edu/fs/food/food_at_school/free_reduced/.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for free and reduced-price meals is established annually by U.S Department of Agriculture and based on household size and income eligibility of parents/guardians. Submit applications to the Fairfax County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services for review and approval. A formal status letter will be sent home within 10 days.

Fees

For 2008-2009 full meal fees go to: www.fcps.edu/fs/food/food_at_school/purchasing/

• Free breakfast and lunch to eligible students
• Reduced-Price Meals for all grade levels: Breakfast $ .30     Lunch $ .40
• Regular Price of Meals:
  • Elementary: Breakfast $1.50     Lunch $2.40
  • Middle/High: Breakfast $1.50     Lunch $2.50

Fairfax County Department of Family Services
www.dss.state.va.us/benefit/foodstamp.html
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/ss/publicas.htm

Services Offered

Kinship care families may be eligible for food stamps to help meet the family’s food and nutrition needs. The Food Stamp program provides electronic benefits that can be used like cash to buy food at stores displaying the Cardinal Card or Quest signs. Food stamp benefits are provided through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that is put through the card scanner with a secret Personal Identification Number (PIN). The EBT card is updated monthly with each month’s benefit amount. The benefits in the EBT account may be carried over from one month to another, but there must be some activity on the account at least every 60 days or the benefits access may be denied.

To apply for Food Stamps, a face-to-face interview may be required. Applications (www.dss.state.va.us/benefit/foodstamp.html) may be mailed to the Fairfax County Department of Family Services or brought to one of the four offices listed below, where staff will assist the family and explain the program.

Eligibility Requirements (as of 2008)

• Fairfax County resident.
• U.S. citizen or must meet eligibility requirements for permanent residents.
• Must have incomes under certain levels, based on household size (gross income equal to or less than 130 percent of the federal and a monthly net income equal to or less than 100 percent of the poverty guidelines). A household is defined as people who live together and eat meals together.
• Must meet resource limit of $2,000 per household, or $3,000 for household with a member age 60 or older who is disabled.
• All vehicles are exempt from countable assets.

Fees

No fees for services.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services Offices:

Fairfax County Department of Family Services
703-324-7500; TTY 703-222-9452
www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit

Services Offered

The General Relief Program is a local program designed to provide either maintenance or emergency assistance to individuals and families who are not eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Applications can be printed out from www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/gr/forms.cgi and mailed to a Department of Family Services office (listed below). Applications can also be brought to one of the four offices, where staff will assist the family and explain the program.

Eligibility Requirements

One of the following requirements must be met for a single person or couple to receive benefits:

• Temporary disability (30 days or more).
• Persons who have applied for SSI and are awaiting a decision.
• Unemployed persons 65 or older with limited or no income.
• Someone who has custody of a child under 18 and is not related to the child.
• Must be ineligible for aid in a federal category.
• Must meet income limits and resource limit of $1,000.
• The income and resources of the sponsor of a permanent resident may be evaluated for permanent residents who entered less than three years ago.

Fees

No fees for services.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services Offices:

Fairfax County Department of Family Services – Pennino Building
12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035
703-324-7604; TTY 703-222-9452
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs

Services Offered

• Fuel Assistance: helps with home heating costs; but can also be used for furnace restarts, late charges, delivery charges, installation charges, and connection or re-connection fees.
• Crisis Assistance: intended to meet a household’s emergency heating need, when no other resource is available. Assistance includes: one-time-only heat security deposit, portable space heater for temporary use, purchase of home heating fuel, payment of heat utility bill, payment for emergency shelter, and/or heating equipment repair/purchase.
• Cooling Assistance: provides purchase or repair of cooling equipment and/or payment for electricity to operate cooling equipment.

Eligibility Requirements

Resident of Fairfax County or the cities of Fairfax or Falls Church with a heating or cooling expense responsibility. Must meet income guidelines and have at least one vulnerable individual who is 60 years old or over, disabled, or under age 6 to receive crisis or cooling assistance.

To Apply

You may contact the Department of Family Services by phone, mail, email (dfsmycase@fairfaxcounty.gov) or in person to request an application. Applications are accepted at the local department of social services as follows:

Fuel Assistance: the second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November.

Crisis Assistance: November 1 through March 15 for equipment related assistance, security deposits, and emergency shelter. First workday in January through March 15 assistance is available for primary heating fuel and payments for primary heating.

Cooling Assistance: June 15 through August 15.

All benefits are based on availability of funds.

Fees

No fees for services.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services Offices:

Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority
For more information or an application: 703-246-5154; TTY 703-385-3578
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rha/seniorhousing/hrep.htm

Services Offered

The Home Repair for the Elderly Program can provide minor home repairs to eligible low- and moderate-income elderly homeowners residing in the property, as well as accessibility modifications for homeowners with disabilities. Fairfax County will provide a crew to do up to one week’s labor and provide up to $500 in materials to complete necessary repairs and maintenance. Materials are paid for with county and federal funds. All materials and labor for the work done under this program are provided free of charge to eligible homeowners.

www.rpjhousing.org

Robert Pierre Johnson Housing Development Corporation (RPJ Housing), a non-profit organization, was organized by the National Capital Presbytery in 1978 and operates throughout Northern Virginia. It offers a variety of programs, two of which are the following:

Rebuilding Together: Home Rehabilitation/Repair

703-528-5606; Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am-5 p.m. or visit www.rpjhousing.org

Services Offered

RJP Housing offers a program that assists low-income homeowners in making needed repairs to the home through the work of volunteers. Repairs generally meet an emergency need, including providing improved accessibility for the disabled, or consist of repairs that, if left unattended, would cause more extensive damage to the home.

Eligibility Requirements

Income guidelines are available upon application.

Fees No fees for services.

Affordable Rental Housing

703-765-1361; Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am-5 p.m. or visit www.rpjhousing.org

Services Offered

RPJ Housing operates 374 affordable rental units in Northern Virginia. Rents are 10% - 25% below market.

Eligibility Requirements

Various income restrictions apply.

Fees

$35 application fee

US Social Security Administration – Widows, Widowers and Other Survivors
1-800-772-1213; TTY 1-800-325-0778
www.ssa.gov

Services Offered

When a person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes dies, certain members of the family may be eligible for survivor benefits. Up to 10 years of work is needed to be eligible for benefits, depending on the person’s age at the time of death.

Social Security survivor benefits can be paid to:

• Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if they are attending high school full time. Under certain circumstances, benefits can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children.
• Children at any age who were disabled before age 22 and remain disabled.

Eligibility Requirements

Income guidelines are available upon application.

No fees for services.

Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration 703-222-8234;
Spanish 703-324-3855; TTY 703-222-7594
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta/taxrelief_home.htm

Services Offered:

Fairfax County provides real estate tax relief and car tax relief to citizens who are either 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, and meet the income and asset eligibility requirements. Qualified taxpayers may also be eligible for rent relief. Returning applicants must file between January 1 and April 1. For eligibility requirements, refer to Tax Relief – Frequently Asked Questions at the web site listed above. To obtain an application, call the phone numbers listed above, request by e-mail, or download the tax relief application from the web site.

Tax Credits

Virginia Department of Taxation: 1-804-786-2992: Virginia Relay 711.
To order a form, call: 1-804-440-2541

Services Offered:

Home Accessibility for the Disabled Tax Credit: Offered by the Commonwealth of Virginia, this allows taxpayers to deduct up to 25 percent of the cost of home modifications for accessibility, up to $500. Unused credit can be carried over for up to five years. You must apply for and receive certification for the credit before claiming it on your tax return.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/ss/publicas.htm

Services Offered

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a program which provides temporary financial assistance each month to eligible families with children. A face-to-face interview may be required. Applications may be mailed to the Department of Family Services or brought to one of the four satellite offices listed below, where staff will assist the family and explain the program.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must have children under 18 (or expected to graduate by 19th birthday) living with a relative.
• Child must be in need of financial assistance.
• A U.S. citizen or eligible immigrant.
• Must cooperate with Virginia’s Division of Child Support Enforcement (a state agency).
• Parents/kinship care relatives may be required to participate in the VIEW (Virginia Initiative for Employment, not Welfare) program.
• Must meet current income limits. No resource limit.
• If the child is between the ages of 5 and 18, the child must be going to school regularly.

Fees

No fees for services.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services Offices: