Fairfax Homeless Count 2018

For the past 13 years, the federally-mandated national Point in Time count of the homeless has been conducted to measure the needs of the homeless.  In 2017, the local Fairfax County homeless count was 964. The results of this year's January 24th count will not be available for several months. However, the homeless tally for 2017 pales in comparison to the number of households and families in Fairfax living on the verge of homelessness - estimated at over 20,000 households. 

In the last 14 months, over 4500 Fairfax households faced imminent eviction and asked for emergency rental assistance from the county. Nearly the same number sought emergency food assistance. Many of these families are referred to Family PASS by the county's Coordinated Services Planning agency. We provide immediate financial assistance and case management and work to help heads of households gain job skills and education needed to earn a living wage.  The cost of keeping a family in their home for Family PASS is about $7500 for a family of four. The cost to the county if that family becomes homeless is over $40,000.  The long-term savings in keeping a family housed are immeasurable.

Family PASS's program helps families avoid the relocation and separation that children often experience in housing insecurity.  The long term impact of both housing and food insecurity on children is devastating, and includes behavioral issues, poor academic performance and a lifetime of chronic illness for many. 

As Family PASS moves forward in 2018, it remains true to its founding mission, to keep families intact, safely housed, and on a path to self-sufficiency.

2018 is the last year the County's Ten-Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Next month we will update readers on the focus of the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness's new post-10 year strategic plan.

Foundation Awards Grant to Family PASS

 

The Semi J. and Ruth W. Begun Foundation has awarded Family PASS a $100,000 grant for operational support to assist us in increasing the number of families we can serve in 2018 to 90 families.  Family PASS has benefited greatly from its relationship with the Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in learning more about serving domestic violence survivors and how to focus on breaking the cycle of violence. Family PASS has also been able to strengthen its program evaluation and effectiveness measurements through a collaboration on data gathering with the Begun Center for Violence Prevention, Research and Education.  The Semi J. and Ruth W. Begun Foundation is a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

 

Board Elects Officers and Directors

At its January 18, 2018 meeting, the Family PASS Board of Directors elected Michael Waddell, Managing Partner of IntegrityOne Partners, as President of the Board.  Mike has the task of filling the very large shoes of former President and co-founder, Allan Steinhardt, who was elected President Emeritus. 

Michael Waddell joined the board in 2015 and has served as Vice President and Chairman of the Annual Golf Tournament. He has played a critical role in attracting support for Family PASS.

In addition, the following officers and board members were elected:

Vice President: Pam Krulitz, Managing Partner, Paravis Partners

Secretary: David Brunori, Partner, Quarles & Brady

Treasurer: Lori Wood, Executive Director, Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund

Directors:  Jodi Bentley, Weichert Realty; Patti Cooksey; Bill Grossman, St. Mark Catholic Church; Mark Sweeney, New York Life Insurance.

 

Family PASS is fortunate to have a very pro-active board that has set an ambitious agenda to help Family PASS meet the growing demand for case management services.

 

Staff Updates--Introducing Delia Williams, MSW

Family PASS is pleased to announce that Delia Williams, MSW, has joined the case management staff to serve the growing number of Family PASS client-families. Ms. Williams served as a student advocate at the Maya Angelou Academy of New Beginnings and special education case manager prior to joining Family PASS. She received her BSW from Oakwood University, and her MSW from the University of Michigan. She also obtained a certificate in Spanish from the Universidad de Montemorelos and has participated in medical mission trips to Jamaica, South Africa, St. Kitts & Nevis, 

St. Lucia, Guyana, and Detroit.  Welcome Delia!

"You really help me to have confidence I needed as a woman, mother to stand on my own."

Last year, a client from Shelter House entered the Family PASS program through our domestic violence collaboration. She had not only survived war and camps in her country but then also endured domestic violence in her new home country. Fleeing her abuser with three young children, she was temporarily sheltered before entering the Family PASS program.

This client was one very determined lady and a real survivor. During  her time with Family PASS, she let her case manager know her commitment to  becoming self-sufficient. She saved money to pay for some of her nursing tuition  but she needed a little help, which we -- through your generous donations -- were able to provide.

 

These are the words (partially edited for clarity) she sent her case manager as she exited our program.*

I know I'm asking for a lot at once but I really want to be a nurse and this one year course is my best route with my situation (which is) why I wanted to lower my rent expenses to be able to pay for school monthly - you really help me to have (the) confidence I needed as a woman, mother to stand on my own and want to do better for myself and my babies ...we deserve better then what I've been settling for from my past relationship.. .my long term goal is to complete this course, eventually become a home owner by 2020 ....working as a nurse will secure that ...I'm more driven to do this and let no obstacle stop me ...  it will be hard but I know I can....there has been a ray of sunlight in my dark world call my past after been with the women's shelter and family pass...every time you speak to me (it) is always uplifting and encouraging. You always make me feel like the sky is my limit...before I felt stuck with no hope...I know our time is over but I just wanted you to know I won't disappoint. I will continue and make you proud and know that your (Family PASS)  help was not wasted ... thank you for dealing with me and helping my babies and I ... we will miss the Family PASS family ....may god reward you guys for your good work  Excuse my poor grammar..

 

*Family PASS has instituted an after care program to provide non-financial support and encouragement to families like this one that leave the Family PASS program but may need a sounding board and encouragement to continue on their path to success.

Holiday Party a Huge Success!

Special thanks to the families and friends of Family PASS that made this year's holiday party for clients a magical event once again.  

Our thanks go out to The Vale Club for leading the effort and to the families of 

St. Mark Catholic Church and PASS1 employees who provided gifts as well as, of course, all our gift-wrapping volunteers organized by our Volunteer Coordinator and Board member, Patti Cooksey.  Thank you again to Michelle Fisher's Girl Scout Troop 3250 who filled stockings and gift bags for all clients and their children. A big hit were the Vienna Volunteer Firefighters who brought along a fire truck for  the kids to play with! 

 

But I don't want my picture taken...

This one for me!

Family portrait

Firefighters  and kids have an old-fashioned snowball fight!

PASS1 employees wrapping gifts

Thank you Girl Scout Troop 3250!

Thank you to Hannah Picardi who took these great photo and provided holiday family portrait photos for our families. 

Thank you to our donors in December and January for your tremendous support of our families:

 

Charles Allen, Jim Asker & Jane Gurin, Ed Baranoski & Jill Crisman, Maria & Tom Barba, Pricilla & Roger Bezdek, James Carroll, Mary Madigan Cassidy, Maureen Cohen, Patti and Cliff Cooksey, Arnold Crespo, Mary Crossin, Deborah Daise, Kirk Denee & Cheryl Graczyk,  Deborah Dicks, Lee & Clyde Ellis, Laurel Glassman, Robert Hamberger & Susan Weltz, Susan Hebert, Shannon & Jeff Jamison, Davis & Cathy Johnson,   Pam

Krulitz & Tracy Molton, Catherine Kuhlmeier, Richard & Cathleen McCabe, Ray & Julie McGraw, Susan McKenzie, Sandra Mobley, Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Naughton, Robert &

Katherine Phillips, Annette Porter, Ed & Kathleen Rafferty, Ann Ramish, Gary & Barbara Roberts, Pam Rothenberger, Karren Scott, Mike Waddell, Judith Weiand, Paul & Germaine Williams, Lora and Joseph Wood, and Marilyn Zett.

Thanks also go to Church of the Holy Comforter, Centreville United Methodist Church, Reston Community Church, and St. John's Episcopal Church.

Family PASS is supported in part with a grant from the Consolidated Community Funding Pool of Fairfax County.

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