Help Your Neighbors

Co-locating the new Penn Daw fire station with the Kennedy Shelter and additional supportive housing is a big opportunity

Fairfax County residents need hundreds more efficiency and supportive housing units. This is difficult given the expensive real estate market.

Unlike the old shelter, the new shelter would have about 20 small efficiencies as permanent housing for people who have experienced homeless for long periods, have certain disabilities, and/or need significant supports. At the last count, there are over 300 people who need supportive housing.

Fairfax County’s policy is to use shelters as short term emergency housing and expects the shelter operator to move people as soon as possible into permanent housing. Thus, the added housing will decrease on-going homelessness for the most vulnerable.

There were 1221 people who were homeless in the 2021 point in time count, a 17% increase from 2020.