reston homeless, not hopeless · homeless, not hopeless homeless camp: in january 2012, 697 single...
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6 Reston Connection February 6-12, 2013 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com
Opinion
By Pam Michellexecutive director, New Hope
Housing, Inc.
G eorge and Mary spentmany years homelessand unsheltered inFairfax County. Yes,
Fairfax County, one of the wealthi-est counties in the country. But inFairfax County, homeless personssuch as George and Mary are gen-erally hidden. They live in thewoods, behind dumpsters, and inshopping centers. Out of sight, outof mind.
For many years, local non-pro�tpartners have been working withcounty sta� day in and day out too�er persons who �nd themselveshomeless a chance to start anew.When given the stability of hous-ing and the support of profession-als and volunteers, homelessadults—including those who havelived many years on the streetsand in the woods—can and dochange and become stable, con-tributing members of our commu-nity. We non-pro�t homeless ser-vices providers can tell story uponstory of what a di�erence stablehousing and supports can make ina life of someone whom othershave given up on, whom othershave discarded as “hopeless.”
In January 2012, 697 singleadults were counted as homelessin Fairfax County and 51 percentof them (353) were chronicallyhomeless—12 consecutive monthsor four separate incidences ofhomelessness in the past threeyears; 24 percent of homelessadults were unsheltered. Thesenumbers are going up.
This month you can help us �ndout who is “out there.” You canhear their stories and you can helpprovide them the housing theyneed.
As part of a nationwide e�ort toput a name and a face to each
number, the Fairfax-Falls Churchcommunity is participating in anational campaign—100K Homes—that will help us understandwho is homeless, why they arehomeless and how we can getthem housed.
Join us on Feb. 25, 26, and/or27, as a part of a volunteer teamvisiting campsites to interviewhomeless individuals. On March 1we will give a detailed report to thecommunity about who we foundand where we go from here. Seehttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/100khomes/ for details.
Help us help everyone in FairfaxCounty �nd a way home.
For more information on NewHope Housing in Alexandria, go to
www.newhopehousing.org.
Homeless, Not Hopeless
Homeless camp: InJanuary 2012, 697 singleadults were counted ashomeless in FairfaxCounty and 51 percent ofthem (353) were chroni-cally homeless.
The Fairfax-Falls Church community is participating in anational campaign—100K Homes—that will help in un-derstanding who is homeless, why they are homeless andhow we can get them housed.
Photoscontributed
To the Editor:Thank you for the wonderful
articles highlighting the positiveimpact of Fairfax Families4Kidsand the relationships and fami-lies that have come about be-cause of the program.
As a mentor, I know �rst-hand how important mentoringprograms such as FairfaxFamilies4Kids can be in a child’slife.
Initially I got involved with
FF4Kids because Iwanted to give back. Inother words, I wanted tobe there for children be-cause I have had adultsin my life that havementored me andhelped to mold me intothe person I am today.
Also, my grandparentsand my mother havebeen foster parents and I have seenthe impact on foster kids of hav-
ing loving/caring adultsin their lives.
What I have realizedis that spending timewith the kids has had atremendous impact onme. I think of the vari-ous experiences of thekids—multiple fosterhomes, aging out with-out a place to live or nojob. It always remindsme to remember how
truly blessed I am no matter whathappens. If they can survive the
hand life has dealt to themthen there is nothing I cannotovercome. I continue to beamazed and humbled by theirresiliency.
To see the challenges theyhave aging out of the systemmakes me want to do all I canto ensure they have the supportthey need. We are more thanmentors and mentees. We area family.
Shavonne HayesSterling
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We Are a Family
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