July 2020 Newsletter

The Office to Prevent and End Homelessness – now part of the Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development – is committed to eliminating the disproportionality of people at-risk of or experiencing homelessness from communities of color and other marginalized populations by providing equitable paths to safe, stable, affordable housing.

COVID-19 Updates

Thanks to the ongoing dedication of numerous partners, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership to Prevent and End Homelessness has continued to address the needs of those at risk of and experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following is a summary of activities from the past month:

• Temporary Shelter Available During COVID-19: The availability of Quarantine, Protection, Isolation, and Decompression (QPID) Hotels as a temporary resource for those who meet the eligibility criteria and are unable to safely practice infection control was announced to the broader community.
  
  Fairfax County also activated the Emergency Support Function 6: Mass Care Health and Human Services, a Workgroup comprised of multiple Fairfax County Departments, to support this collaborative effort. 
  
  More than 250 people have transitioned into QPID Hotels since April 16th with locations now operating in Falls Church, Herndon, and Alexandria. The QPID Hotels are managed by several non-profit partners, including Shelter House, Cornerstones, New Hope Housing, and FACETS. Northern Virginia Family Service began operating a Central Intake on June 17th to triage referrals to the various QPID Hotels.
  
  The hotel operations were highlighted in an article released by Patch News, Hotel Rooms Help Fairfax County Homeless During Pandemic.
   
• Protect Your Tenant Rights during COVID-19: There are federal and state laws that help renters and homeowners unable to pay their rent because of COVID-19. Fairfax County’s Emergency Information Blog shared resources on June 16th available for Tenants.
   
• Governor Northam Launches Rent and Mortgage Relief Program: Governor Northam announced the launch of the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program on June 29th, which will provide short-term financial assistance to households experiencing financial instability as a result of the pandemic. Coordinated Services Planning and Northern Virginia Family Service will be supporting this initiative locally. 
   
• Información sobre COVID-19 en Español: Information about COVID-19 has been translated into Spanish.

Thank you to the many providers that are serving people in our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each and every one of you are sincerely appreciated.
 

PARTNERSHIP Updates

• A Natural Pairing - Fairfax County Housing Welcomes Office to Prevent and End Homelessness: Fairfax County Fairfax County’s two housing organizations, the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH), are officially combined as of July 1, 2020 as one agency to further support our community’s efforts and strong outcomes in both preventing and ending homelessness and in promoting the preservation and development of affordable housing. Tom Barnett, Acting Director of for OPEH, will continue to manage the work of this division under the leadership of HCD Director Tom Fleetwood. 
   
• The Office to Prevent and End Homelessness will manage the contracts for Artemis House, the 24-hr emergency shelters serving victims of domestic and sexual violence, stalking and human trafficking, as well as connected housing programs, as of July 1, 2020. Staff will continue to collaborate with the Department of Family Services Domestic and Sexual Violence Services to support this vulnerable population, and is adding a part-time, non-merit Management Analyst I position with the transition of the contracts. To apply, please email your resume to Diana.Pina@fairfaxcounty.gov.
   
• Bi-ANNUAL COC MEETING 
  July 7, 2020, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
  To RSVP for the upcoming virtual Bi-Annual Continuum of Care (CoC) Meeting, please use the CoC Meeting Eventbrite Invitation. The goal of the CoC Meeting is to connect partners in the Fairfax-Falls Church Community to build and strengthen common understanding of homeless system initiatives and performance outcomes. 
   
• USICH Strategic Planning – Public Input Opportunity: USICH is currently gathering public input on the federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness. The comment period ends July 11.
   
• 2020 Census Workers to Count Population Experiencing Homeless in September: The U.S. Census Bureau has announced the new schedule for counting people experiencing homelessness in the 2020 Census. The operation was originally scheduled for March 30 through April 1, but health and safety concerns due to COVID-19 forced a delay. People experiencing homelessness will be counted by specially trained census takers September 22 through 24.
   

DATA Spotlight

The National Alliance to End Homelessness published an updated version of its annual report, the State of Homelessness: 2020 Edition. As in previous years, it continues to be a tool to help evaluate the nation’s progress towards ending homelessness. Based on data collected in 2019, the report includes new features that help providers and communities better understand the nature of homelessness and service systems.
 

Training Opportunities

Please register for the following trainings if you have an interest in attending. By registering, we will be able to inform you of any adjustments or cancelations due to COVID-19. 

• Advancing Health Equity During and Beyond COVID-19
  July 10, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
  Trust for America’s Health
   
• Street Outreach Workshop 
  August 21, 2020,  9 a.m. to 5p.m. 
  Government Center, Room 9/10
  12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035
   
• Fair Housing Seminar, Virginia Fair Housing Office (enter “DPOR” in the Keyword Search and follow the prompts)
  November 18, 2020, 10a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Jefferson Center
  541 Luck Ave SW, Ste 221, Roanoke, VA 24016
  *Registration will begin July 18th