Background:

On March 31, 2008, the Board of Supervisors adopted a plan to end homelessness in the Fairfax-Falls Church Community. The 10-year plan was developed by a large, diverse committee of community stakeholders. It committed to the goal that by the end of 2018 every person who is homeless or at risk of being homeless would be able to access appropriate affordable housing and the services needed to keep them in their homes.

The community partnership achieved a 46 percent reduction in the number of people experiencing homelessness, as measured by the annual Point in Time count. This 10-year coordinated and creative effort by public and private organizations implemented the strategies identified in the original plan: prevent homelessness whenever possible; increase and preserve affordable housing; deliver integrated social services; and sustain a community partnership that ensures shared accountability.

As the pandemic enters its third year, it is clear COVID-19 has changed the situation as many community members experienced serious health crises or lost their jobs. Additionally, county government and nonprofit providers continue to be challenged in retaining and recruiting professionally trained social workers to meet the rising demand for housing and services during a time of unprecedented need.  The time is right to evaluate program performance and how the county might double down on a commitment to prevent and end homelessness post-pandemic.

Motion:

I move that the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness in the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) review current operational performance of county and nonprofit service providers in preventing and ending homelessness. In addition, it should lead an effort to update Fairfax County’s homelessness strategies in collaboration with the Continuum of Care committee of the Affordable Housing Advisory Council.

HCD staff should then present to the Board of Supervisors its findings at an upcoming 2022 Housing Committee meeting, along with suggestions for improvements and the necessary funding to assure that local homeless assistance programs are not only effectively ending homelessness, but that they are providing safe and caring environments for Fairfax County residents in housing crisis.