Northern Virginia Yoga & Wellness Day, Sunday, June 9, 2013, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Reston Town Center 

Free Public Event presented by Beloved Yoga ~ Proceeds Benefit Reston Interfaith. Click here for more information on Love Your Body Day 

Why the Campaign…

• Homelessness is an urgent problem in the Fairfax-Falls Church Community.
• In 2008 Fairfax-Falls Church nonprofits, faith communities, businesses, individuals and local governments came together to adopt the “10-Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.”
• Already this community partnership has generated results, decreasing the homelessness rate by rapidly moving families and individuals into housing with services. However, those experiencing chronic homelessness have been harder to help.
• That’s why the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership on ending homelessness is joining the 100,000 Homes Campaign. The campaign provides concrete, innovative tools and infrastructure that will help us put a real face on homelessness.
• We can solve homelessness…with your help.

Registry Week Completed

462 Homeless Living Outdoors Interviewed during “Registry Week,” an Intense Effort to Document Fairfax’s Chronically Homeless Men and Women

More than 200 volunteers spread out across Fairfax County on February 24-27. Here in the Reston/Herndon area 60 Reston Interfaith volunteers and staff surveyed homeless people living in encampments in the woods, the North County Hypothermia Prevention Program, and the Embry Rucker Community Shelter Drop-In Program. Staff and volunteers connected with unsheltered adults and conducted health assessments of these individuals, resulting in more than 106 interviews during the first-ever “Registry Week,” a component of the 100,000 Homes Fairfax Campaign. The findings will be used to create profiles of people to ensure that each homeless individual is counted and that their progress in finding housing and services can be better tracked.

Key findings from Registry Week—which were released during a community debrief at Jubilee Christian Center attended by the partners, Congressman Gerry Connolly, Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, and a number of other members of the Board of Supervisors—include:

• Nearly a quarter were between 18-34 years old
• The largest number of interviewees (151) were found in the Route 1 corridor
• More than three-quarters of interviewees were male
• “Unable to pay rent/utilities” and “job loss” were by far the most cited reasons for homelessness
• 10 percent were veterans
• Nearly half were employed
• 40 percent had a physical disability

Media Coverage

100,000 Homes Registry Video Summary, Jerry Ferguson of Fairfax Public Access

Despite strides, Northern Virginia still grappling with homelessness – WTOP – March 11, 2013

Putting a Face on Homelessness – The Connection – March 7, 2013

Fairfax County Homelessness Survey – Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce – March 6, 2013

Welcomed Into Their ‘Homes’ – The Huffington Post – March 6, 2013

Homeless Surveyed Sheds New Light on Critical Issue – Fairfax Times – March 5, 2013

Hundreds of Volunteers Catalogue 462 Chronically Homeless People in Fairfax County - Lorton Patch – March 5, 2013

Registry Week Finds Nearly 500 Live Outdoors – Reston Patch – March 5, 2013

Finding Homes for the Homeless in Fairfax County – The Washington Post – March 4, 2013

Life in the Shadows: Searhing for Centreville’s Homeless - Centreville Patch – March 1 , 2013

Putting a Name and Face on Chronically Homeless – The Connection – February 28, 2013

Volunteers Help to Put a Face on Some the Homeless in Fairfax County – NBC4 News – February 27, 2013

Fairfax Homeless Population Subject to Vulnerability Study – WAMU News – February 26, 2013

Fairfax County Registers Chronically Homeless – Lorton Patch – February 26, 2013

Fairfax County identifies, registers its homeless – ABC7 News – February 26, 2013

Reston Interfaith to Survey Area Needs – Reston Patch – February 23, 2013

New Approach to Helping Chronic Homeless - The Connection – February 22, 2013

Program Puts a Face on Homelessness – Fairfax Times – February 22, 2013

100,000 Homes Takes Aim at Local Homelessness – Falls Church News-Press – February 21, 2013

Fairfax County to Register Chronically Homeless - Lorton Patch – February 21, 2013

Homeless, Not Hopeless – Reston Connection – February 12, 2013

New Campaign Will Help Fairfax Homeless – Lorton Patch – January 27, 2013

Tweets about “#100khomesffx”

Congregational and Community Sponsorship and Volunteer Opportunities

An immediate connection to permanent supportive housing can ensure that over 80% of homeless individuals remain housed. Your support during Registry Week could include sponsoring the training dinner or volunteering to do the registry outreach.

Once the most vulnerable are identified, Reston Interfaith and partners are offering additional opportunities to help which will include mentoring or providing companionship,  financial sponsorship of furniture, first-month’s rent, security deposits or helping with rental sustainability for those transitioning from homelessness to permanent homes.

On Monday, Jan. 21, the Martin Luther King Day of Service FASTRAN Bus will travel to Shoppers food and Pharmacy in Herndon, Va to collect donations of food for Reston Interfaith.

Monday, January 21
9:30am-4:30pm
Village Center at Dulles Shoppers
2425 Centreville Road
Herndon, VA 20171

What to Give:

• New and gently used winter coats, hats, gloves, and scarves
• All child and adult sizes (XL & XXL are especially needed)

All donations are tax deductible.

When to Give:

• November 10, 2012 – March 9, 2013

Click here to learn how to donate.

Immanuel Church on the Hill
3606  Seminary Road
Alexandria, VA  22302

Free parking is available, light refreshments will be served This is a great opportunity to learn about state level policies that affect your community, how they are made, and how you can be engaged in the democratic process. Virginia Interfaith Center staff will provide an overview of the legislative process and provide information about a variety of policies that will be addressed in the 2013 General Assembly. Registration for this event is preferred, but not necessary. If you can, register online  <http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=68%2FmgqqL399aFgijPcyeIAYbjEzZIV03> and let us know which issues you want to learn about! This event is free and open to the public, all are welcome! Download a flyer <http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=GKTlkDTdPS4FrY%2FPf8UPQgYbjEzZIV03> to share with friends, neighbors and your congregation.

Get your free tickets by attending the Book Fair!

Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center

1086 Elden Street

Herndon, VA 20170

]]> http://www.restoninterfaith.org/herndon-neighborhood-resource-center-book-fair/feed/ 0 http://www.restoninterfaith.org/help-the-homeless-get-involved-now/ http://www.restoninterfaith.org/help-the-homeless-get-involved-now/#comments Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:57:11 +0000 AbbyKimble http://www.restoninterfaith.org/?p=3413 Be part of the Help the Homeless Program to raise awareness and provide support to prevent and end homelessness in our community.  Help us reach our goal of having 4,000 participants. Walk on October 14 in our Community walk and or get your  school, church, business, and other groups  to coordinate a “Help the Homeless” event from now to November. Click here to learn more…