Ways You Can Help Fight Hunger and Homelessness in Fairfax County

Hunger and homelessness are not new problems in our community or nation, but these issues are top of mind of as the holidays and cold weather approach.

Each year, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Student Campaign Against Hunger designate the week prior to Thanksgiving as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Hunger or food insecurity affects more than 96,000 people in Fairfax County, according to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. 

And according to the 2024 Point in Time Count, more than 1,270 people were unhoused in the county.
 

Hunger and Homelessness in Fairfax County

Food insecurity affects our most vulnerable populations:

According to the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2024 Hunger Report, the prevalence of food insecurity in Fairfax County is 27%, an increase of 3% from last year. The report reveals multiple and compounding factors that have driven food insecurity to remain at high levels, such as inflation, ongoing employment hardships and the reduced levels of government benefits.

Additionally:

• More than 103,000 children in the Washington, DC, region are food insecure, with 8,000 residing in Fairfax County.
• More than one-third (about 34%) of children qualify for free and reduced meals in Fairfax County Public Schools.
• Approximately 71,000 SNAP recipients reside in the county; nearly 18,000 of them are older than 50.

The Fairfax Food Council, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County Government and a network of more than 100 nonprofit and faith communities help raise awareness and provide food and support to residents who are affected.

Homelessness in the county:

There were 1,278 people experiencing homelessness in Fairfax County on the night of the 2024 Point-in-Time Count. The county’s services for those experiencing homelessness include:

• Seven shelters for adults and families. Call one of them to request a bed or outreach if you are unsheltered.
• A 24-hour hotline for victims of domestic and sexual violence: 703-360-7273, TTY 11
• Almost 80 houses of worship that support the seasonal hypothermia prevention program.

Take Action to Help Others

There are several ways you can help support those with food insecurity in Fairfax County:

• Stuff the Bus is a partnership between Fairfax County Government and local nonprofit organizations to support food assistance efforts for families and households. The annual program uses the county’s FASTRAN buses to collect donations for local food banks every winter.
• Get involved with the Fairfax Food Council and explore ways to improve our food system and support healthy food access.

You can also help those who are unsheltered by:

• Donating: Our network of nonprofit partners seeks donations of clothing, furniture, school supplies and more. 
• Volunteering: Job training, shelter support, fundraising and other assistance is needed across the county. Volunteer opportunities can be found on the Volunteer Fairfax website.

How to Get Help

There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance:

• Call Coordinated Services Planning for assistance at 703-222-0880.
• Apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides funds that can be used like cash to buy eligible food items from authorized retailers.
• Sign up for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), a supplemental food program for pregnant, postpartum or nursing women, infants or children under five years of age.
• Request home-delivered meals for older adults who would like meals in their home.
• Apply for Free and Reduced Cost meals with FCPS.
• Find after-school meals programs at select schools.
• Visit the Human Services Resource Guide to find organizations that can assist.