FACETS In the News
Letter to the Editor: Back to School a Challenging Time, Fairfax Times, September 22, 2010
Groups Partner to Collect Supplies for Homeless People, Washington Post, September 13, 2010
Fairfax County Homeless Population Falls As Coalition Grows, Washington Post, August 26, 2010
County Businesses Join the Fight to End Homelessness, Fairfax Times, August 25, 2010FACETS Featured in the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region's June 2010 Report to the Community, "A Region Responds: The Neighbors in Need Fund" |
-Taste of Fall Event Volunteers; Oct. 23, 2010
-Hypothermia Prevention Drivers; Thursday and Sunday am from Nov. - Mar.
-Client Transportation Assistants; Ongoing; esp. on Thursdays and Saturdays
-Community Program Assistants; Share your time and talents with children and adults at our three area community centers. Help lead evening programs such as homework help, computer lab, ESL and boys and girls groups
-Mentors
-Administrative Assistants
-Translation Assistants
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Back to School Drive Report Card: A+
FACETS would like to thank the many community supporters who helped make our 2010 Back to School Drive a huge success. Thanks to your generosity, we provided nearly 300 children served by FACETS with brand-new backpacks overflowing with school supplies. Fairfax Circle Baptist Church and Southview Baptist Church hosted lively Back-to-School parties for children served throughout FACETS' programs. Not only did these donations enable each child to start out the school year equipped to learn, but receiving school supplies for their children allowed parents in need to pay for basic necessities such as food and housing.
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Featured Story:
A Family is Back on their Feet
FACETS' Linda's Gateway program helps families facing homelessness avoid moving into emergency shelter by locating permanent housing for them. While living temporarily in apartment units, five families work closely with our case managers to receive budget counseling, housing location services, connection to community resources, transportation assistance, and services for their children. Having a stable home environment is especially important for kids, because living in a temporary motel or homeless shelter makes focusing on academics and forming peer relationships especially challenging. Marcia and John are just one success story from this program. Recently, Marcia, John and their preschool son entered Linda's Gateway when they found themselves homeless due to insufficient income. John was working as a delivery driver, and Marcia, despite an ongoing search, was unable to find employment. Following their move into Linda's Gateway, FACETS helped Marcia with her job search and she finally secured full-time employment at her son's preschool. This position allowed the family to save money because of an employee discount for childcare. When their name came up on a list for an affordable housing apartment unit, they qualified and, with financial assistance from FACETS, moved in and paid three months of rent up front, purchased furniture for their unit and paid for utilities. Instead of spending months in a homeless shelter, this family was able to quickly transition into permanent housing of their own while receiving the support they needed to increase income and cover childcare costs.
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Upcoming FACETS EventsOctober 23: A Taste of Fall with FACETSJoin us on October 23, 2010 at the Ernst Cultural Center at  7:00 pm to sample food and drinks from The Auld Shebeen, Bangkok Blues, Bollywood Bistro, Dogwood Tavern, El Paso Café, Four Sisters Vietnamese Restaurant, Lebanese Taverna, Natalia's Elegant Creations, Hops Grill & Brewery and Mattaponi Winery. In addition to the live and silent auctions, enjoy live musical entertainment by Alpha Dog Blues Band, presented by Bangkok Blues. Click here to check out the pre-event online auction with new items added daily, open from October 13 - 22. Tickets are $35 and include tastings of all food and beverages, including wine, beer and sodas. Register online today or click here to download the RSVP form, which can be returned to FACETS via mail or fax. The Ernst Cultural Center is located at 8333 Little River Turnpike in Annandale, VA. All proceeds benefit the families and individuals served by FACETS. For more information, please contact Deborah Heller, Events and Donations Coordinator, at 703-352-3268 or DHeller@FacetsCares.org. November 7: Help the Homeless Community DayJoin us on November 7, 2010 from 1:30 pm- 4:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax to lend a hand to the homeless in Fairfax County. Gather your friends and family and enjoy a variety of activities for all ages - creating snack and emergency kits for people in need, writing cards to those we serve and going on a fun outdoor "Walk Through FACETS" to hear how your support makes a difference. If 700 people participate in our 2010 Help the Homeless programs, FACETS will receive an incentive gift of $10,000 on top of all registration fees. Your participation will directly benefit FACETS' work to provide comprehensive programs that prevent and end homelessness in our community. Click here to register today, or to learn about additional ways to support FACETS' Help the Homeless efforts. |
Advocacy & Awareness
-FACETS Advocates for the Homeless on Capitol Hill This summer, three FACETS staff members attended the National Conference on Ending Homelessness, presented by the National Alliance To End Homelessness in Washington D.C.. Following the conference, they spent a full day advocating on Capitol Hill about preventing and ending homelessness in Fairfax County. In partnership with several area nonprofits, FACETS shared information about affordable housing needs, how to better serve veterans who are homeless and best-practice models for housing and supportive services grants with several elected officials, including Senator Jim Webb, Rep. Jim Moran, Rep Tom Perriello and Rep. Glenn Nye. We are proud of our staff members for providing real-life examples and personal engagement to help our leaders represent the needs of those served by FACETS in federal policy discussions.
Community EngagementFairfax County is projecting a multi-million dollar budget deficit for FY2012, beginning July 1, 2011. Get involved in the discussion and advocate for affordable housing and the preservation of social services. On October 23 at Hayfield Secondary School from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, attend the second community forum to give input and hear about potential changes directly from County Board Chairman Sharon Bulova and School Board Chairman Kathy Smith. If you can't attend the forum, consider hosting and facilitating a smaller group conversation with your friends and neighbors - materials and more information are available at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dmb/.
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How You Can HelpLooking for more ways to get involved? Consider donating items to the FACETS pantry. Just some of the items we need are:*BABY ITEMS: Diapers (sizes 0 - 5), baby wipes, formula*CANNED FOOD: "Pop-top" items, meats, soups, vegetables, fruits*PERSONAL TOILETRIES: Shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpasteItems can be dropped off at the FACETS office on
Monday - Friday between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.
For more information, email us or call 703-352-3268. |
10640 Page Avenue, Suite 300, Fairfax, VA 22030
703-352-5090 / 703-352-5088
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