JULY 2021 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.

• Temporary Shelter Available During COVID-19: More than 1700 people have transitioned into Quarantine, Protection, Isolation, and Decompression (QPID) Hotels since April 16, 2020 with locations operating across Fairfax County. The QPID Hotels are managed by several non-profit partners, including Cornerstones, FACETS, New Hope Housing, and Shelter House. Northern Virginia Family Service operates a Central Intake (703-267-3511) to triage referrals to the QPID Hotels. Fairfax County released a video to provide information on how to access temporary shelter.
  
   
• Eviction Prevention: The Eviction Moratorium established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to temporarily halt evictions of tenants unable to make rental payments has been extended through June 30, 2021. Fairfax County’s Eviction Webpage continues to serve as a resource that compiles eviction prevention data and information related to basic needs assistance, the eviction process, tenant rights, financial and medical assistance, emergency shelter, legal services and more.
   
• Northern Virginia Eviction Prevention and Housing Stability Toolkit: The Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance (NVAHA) and Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) have published a toolkit explain what can be done to prevent evictions in Northern Virginia and where gaps in eviction prevention currently exists.
   
• COVID-19 Vaccination: 
  • For information on the COVID-19 Vaccine and its administration locally, please visit Fairfax County’s Vaccine website.
  • For vaccine questions and help with scheduling, call 703-324-7404.
  • Vaccine regional campaign videos were developed as part of the StayWellNoVa initiative to provide vaccine information across audiences.
  • Uber and Lyft Will Provide Free Rides for Vaccine Appointments: Uber and Lyft will be providing free rides to and from vaccine appointments up until July 4th.

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

• Bi-Annual CoC Meeting | July 8, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  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. In this virtual meeting, we will review the newly developed Point-in-Time Count and System Performance Measure dashboards and provide updates on several initiatives, including Built for Zero, the Regional Racial Equity Initiative, the Emergency Housing Vouchers, and the formation of the new Continuum of Care (CoC) Committee, which will assume the role of the CoC Governance.

• Continuum of Care (CoC) Governance: On June 22, the Board of Supervisors approved the re-chartering of the Affordable Housing Advisory Council (AHAC) to include a new Continuum of Care (CoC) Committee, which will fulfill the requirements set forth under the federal CoC regulations. A transitional CoC Committee will meet on July 14, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. This virtual meeting is open to the public; the details to join will be shared on the county’s Public Meetings Calendar.

• Public Assistance and Employment Services Division at Department of Family Services (DFS): The Department of Family Services announced that beginning July 1, the DFS Self-Sufficiency Division will have a new name: Public Assistance and Employment Services (PAES). The same important services will continue to be offered, including food, financial, medical and employment assistance, with improved and more convenient access. Visit Financial and Medical Assistance | Family Services (fairfaxcounty.gov) for public assistance information and Employment and Training | Family Services (fairfaxcounty.gov) for employment resources.

• HUD Restores Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Requirement: HUD published an interim final rule on restoring the Fair Housing Act’s Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing requirement. In addition to barring housing discrimination, the Fair Housing Act requires HUD and its funding recipients, such as local communities, to also take affirmative steps to remedy fair housing issues such as racially segregated neighborhoods, lack of housing choice, and unequal access to housing-related opportunities. The interim final rule will go into effect on July 31, 2021. HUD will take comments for 30 days after publication and may act on them prior to the effective date of the rule. 

• Non-filer Sign-up Tool: The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service released a new online tool to help families who normally aren’t required to file an income tax return to register quickly for the expanded and newly-advanceable Child Tax Credit from the American Rescue Plan. This tool addresses a major obstacle to accessing payments for people experiencing homelessness, as well as those in housing programs. Providers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with it as soon as possible.

• Consolidated Community Funding Pool FY2023-2024, Selection Advisory Committee: Fairfax County Consolidated Community Funding Pool Funding Application for the FY2023-2024 award cycle will be released this coming fall. The county is seeking community volunteers willing to participate on a Selection Advisory Committee to review and evaluate proposals and make recommendations on how to distribute funds to community partners that provide programs to support Fairfax County residents. Extensive pre-service orientation will be provided, and this volunteer opportunity can be done entirely virtually if requested. More information can be found on the Selection Advisory Committee Flyer and applications will be accepted through August 31, 2021.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Route 50/West Ox Affordable Housing Project: The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) has received an unsolicited proposal under the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 (PPEA) for the development of its property located at the intersection of Lee-Jackson Memorial Highway (Route 50) and Fair Ridge Drive in the Sully District. In accordance with FCRHA procedures and the provisions of the PPEA, the FCRHA has issued a request for competing proposals to design, develop, construct, own, and operate an affordable community for very low-income persons in need of permanent supportive housing, pursuant to a long-term, nominal fee ground lease from the FCRHA. The complete details for this RFP, including submission instructions and selection criteria, are available online. Applications are due July 19, 2021, by 2:00 p.m.

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.

• Reproductive and Sexual Coercion
  Friday, Jul 16, 2021
  10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
  Participants will learn about reproductive and sexual coercion using a reproductive justice framework, an intersectional approach created by SisterSong that treats reproductive health in a holistic way. The presenter will discuss how local partners can collaborate; how to improve providers’ procedures regarding clients’ sexual activity and sexual health; and how to better identify and support survivors.

• Mental Health 101 for Housing Providers
  Thursday, Jul 29, 2021 | 10:00 a.m.– 12:00 p.m.
  Thursday, Aug 5, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  Thursday, Aug 12, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  This three-part series is targeted to housing counselors and providers who may work with individuals experiencing symptoms of mental illness. The presence of these symptoms may present additional challenges to a job that may already feel daunting. Participants will gain a broad understanding of some of the more common mental health diagnoses, discuss symptoms and symptom management, and develop a set of tools to best serve this population. 

• Reproductive and Sexual Coercion
  Fri, Jul 16, 2021
  10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
  Participants will learn about reproductive and sexual coercion using a reproductive justice framework, an intersectional approach created by SisterSong that treats reproductive health in a holistic way. The presenter will discuss how local partners can collaborate; how to improve providers’ procedures regarding clients’ sexual activity and sexual health; and how to better identify and support survivors.

• Incarcerated Victims of Sexual Violence
  Wed, Aug 4, 2021
  9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
  Incarcerated individuals face much higher rates of sexual violence and are also disproportionately likely to have been sexually abused before incarceration. Just Detention International will explain the incidence and dynamics of sexual abuse in detention and provide guidance on addressing the impact of sexual violence on incarcerated survivors, including the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards. JDI will also discuss how to challenge cultural assumptions about sexual violence in detention so “rape is not part of the penalty.”

• Strangulation and Sexual Violence
  Fri, Sept 10, 2021
  1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
  Beth Roach will share her expertise on strangulation and asphyxiation as they are used in intimate partner and non-intimate partner sexual violence. She will describe the general dangers and signs of strangulation, as well as the unique characteristics of strangulation/ asphyxiation of sexual violence victims, how to identify and support strangulation victims, and Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team (FACT) services.

• Sexual Harassment
  Mon, Nov. 15, 2021
  10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  Sexual harassment can include a wide range of unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature, and can occur in a workplace, learning or housing situation. The speaker will address how to be aware of and respond to sexual harassment, whether you are a victim, witness, or advocate. This presentation will enable participants to raise awareness and decrease tolerance for sexual harassment.