Department of Family Services – Older Adults

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7948 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 708
Fairfax, VA 22035
Trina Mayhan-Webb
Director

Department Resources

Related Resources

Home Repair and Renovation

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Consumer Resource Guide to Home Repair and Renovation

This resource was created to help renters and homeowners in the Fairfax area get information about resources to support aging in place. It was created with support from the Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ Adult and Aging Division and the Housing Initiative Development Committee of the SHAPE the Future of Aging Plan.

Home Repair Services

No-cost Home Weatherization and Energy Efficiency Upgrade for qualified homeowners and renters. Improvements can include insulation, HVAC upgrades, LED lighting, air and duct sealing, and more to help you save money on your utility bills and improve home comfort.

Contact Information
Website: www.communityhousingpartners.org/energy-solutions/
Email: chpenergysolutions@chpc2.org
Phone: 1-888-229-3714

Habitat partners with TruBlue Total House Care to provide repairs to seniors with low-incomes to enable them to safely age in place or address other hazards in their homes. Working with Habitat DC-NOVA, TruBlue provides an in-home senior safety assessment and completes necessary repairs up to $2,500.

Contact Information
Website: www.habitatdcnova.org/what-we-do/home-repair/
Email: homerepairprogram@habitatdcnova.org
Phone: 703-656-1028

Home Repair for the Elderly Program for Elderly and Disabled Adults (HREP) is designed to provide minor home repairs and/or accessibility modifications to eligible low- and moderate-income elderly homeowners and individuals with disabilities for homes in which they are currently residing. Materials are paid for by county and federal funds. All materials and labor for the work done under this program are provided completely FREE OF CHARGE to eligible homeowners. HREP provides eligible homeowners with repairs up to $1,000 in materials for these repairs and modifications.

To learn more visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/housing/home-repair-elderlyprogram, email rha@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-246-5179, TTY 711.

Provides health and safety repairs and accessibility modifications at NO CHARGE for low- and moderate-income homeowners. Rebuilding Together-AFF specializes in helping older residents age in place but offers a wide range of interior and exterior repairs – from building wheelchair ramps and installing stairlifts to replacing appliances and water heaters – and from plumbing, electrical and HVAC repairs to brighter lighting and basic energy upgrades.

Contact Information
Website: www.rebuildingtogether-aff.org
Email: info@rebuildingtogether-aff.org
Phone: 703-528-1999

Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke (and also serving South County)
This free service assists older adults in the Fairfax and Burke communities with minor home repairs, and limited yard work. Materials and supplies should be provided by the client.

Please make your requests well in advance of the needed service.

Contact Information
Website: www.scfbva.org
Email: info@scfbva.org
Phone: 703-323-4788

Shepherd’s Center of McLean-Arlington-Falls Church
Volunteers for the Handy Helpers program assist clients with basic household chores like changing a light bulb, hanging a picture, or doing light yard work.

Contact Information
Website: www.scmafc.org/services
Email: contact@scmafc.org
Phone: 703-506-2199

Shepherd’s Center of Northern Virginia
This free service assists older adults in the Oakton-Vienna-Reston-Herndon-Great Falls communities with minor home repairs, and limited yard work. Materials and supplies should be provided by the client.

Contact Information
Website: www.scnova.org/services/services-minor-home-repairs
Email: office@scnova.org
Phone: 703-260-9568

Program supported by neighbors volunteering to help neighbors. Volunteers provide support and access to services such as drive sharing, home repair, home care and more. Each village can be unique, hand-tailored to fit local needs, and some provide support for all generations. Some Villages charge a membership fee.

To learn more visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-communityservices/villages or call 703-246-8962.

Resources

The Energy Assistance Program consists of the three components listed below. All benefits are based on availability of funds. In order to be eligible for any of the components, certain citizenship criteria must be met and a household’s income must be less than the maximum allowed for the number of people in the home.

  • Fuel Assistance: Helps eligible households with the costs of heating their homes. You must be responsible for paying the heating bill. Applications accepted the second Tuesday in October through the second Friday in November.
  • Crisis Assistance: This component helps households in heating emergency situations with primary heat security deposits, utility heating bills, repair/replacement of heating equipment, or primary heating fuel. Applications accepted November 1 through March 15 for equipment related assistance and security deposits. Applications accepted the first workday in January through March 15 for purchase of primary home heating fuel and payment of primary heat utility bills.
  • Cooling Assistance: This component helps with cooling equipment repairs or purchases and with payment of the electric bill to operate cooling equipment. You must have or be in need of cooling equipment and there must be an elderly person, a person living with a disability, or a child under 6 living in the home. Applications accepted June 15 through August 15.

Applications are accepted online at www.commonhelp.virginia.gov/access

Enterprise Customer Service Center at 1-855-635-4370 at the local department of social services

Fairfax County residents can get FREE battery-powered smoke alarms by contacting their local Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) station or by submitting the completed form at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fire-ems/free-smoke-alarms. After your request is received, a member of the Fairfax County FRD will contact you to schedule a visit to your house or apartment, to check your current alarms, and install new ones.

Assists with permitting for Universal Design modifications to your home. Universal Design can make your home fit your life at every stage and situation.

Learn more at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/universal-design or call 703-324-1528, TTY 711.

Grants help residents make their homes safe and accessible. Up to $8,000 is available for projects like the following: Installing ramps and chairlifts, installing remote entry devices, modifying, bathrooms and kitchens and widening doorways and sidewalks.

  • Granting Freedom: Virginia Housing partners with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services for homeowners or renters who are veterans or service members that sustained a line-of-duty injury resulting in a service-connected disability.
  • Owner-Occupied Modification Grant: Primarily serves homeowners with disabilities whose incomes are at or below 80% of the Area Median Income.
  • Rental Unit Accessibility Modification (RUAM) Grant: Available to renters with disabilities who need improved accessibility in their apartment, condo, townhome, or rental house who meet the income requirements of at or below 80% Area Median Income.

Learn more at www.virginiahousing.com/accessibility-grants or call 1-800-828-1140, TTY 711.

The Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit (LHTC) program is designed to improve accessibility and universal visitability in Virginia’s residential units by providing state tax credits for the purchase of new units or the retrofitting of existing housing units. Tax Credits are available for up to $6,500 for the purchase/construction of a new accessible residence and up to 50 percent of the cost of retrofitting existing units, Not to exceed $6,500.

Applications are to be filed and received by DHCD by Jan. 31 of the year following the year in which the purchase or retrofitting was completed. To learn more visit www.dhcd.virginia.gov/lhtc, email hsnh@dhcd.virginia.gov or call 1-804-371-7124.

View Consumer Resource Guide to Home Repair and Renovation Flyers

If you have suggestions for this resource, please contact Rebuilding Together-AFF at info@rebuildingtogether-aff.org and with “Home Repair Guide” in the subject line.

This guide was created to highlight free home maintenance programs and services to support aging in place for eligible older adults. It is intended to showcase available resources without recommending or endorsing any private or for-profit businesses or local vendors.


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