Delegate Mark Keam Addresses Homelessness 

at Family PASS Recognition Breakfast

In talking about the barriers families face, Guest Speaker Delegate Mark Keam recalled his own uncertain childhood -- and potential homelessness -- when his family fled from Vietnam back to Korea where there was little family to support them and no jobs. He also recalled his first meeting, years later, with Family PASS founders Allan and Suezette Steinhardt. It was his first attempt at running for office and he was going door-to-door to find out what constituents felt were important issues. Then he knocked on the Steinhardt's door. Suezette Steinhardt proceeded to educate the young candidate on the state of homelessness and near homelessness in Fairfax County -- in his own district. It was an eye-opener and a situation the candidate could relate to.

 

Delegate Keam, speaking to over 120

guests at the Family PASS Recognition Breakfast on April 25th, urged attendees to look around, to be pro-active, to do something when they see a family, a child, or an individual who may need help. He said that homelessness and near homelessness in the community is everyone's problem.

 

Mark Keam has represented the 35th district in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2009, a district that includes the Town of Vienna as well as parts of the surrounding communities in Tysons, Dunn Loring, Oakton, Penderbrook and Fair Oaks.

Family PASS President Lauds Fairfax 

for its Focus on Homelessness

Michael Waddell, President of Family PASS Board of Directors, told the Breakfast audience that while the count of actual homeless in Fairfax County has dropped consistently over the past ten years, there are an alarming number of households - nearly 20,000 -- on the verge of imminent homelessness. Citing a recent article in The Washington Post, he said that the exodus of poverty from cities into the surrounding suburbs and increase in residents living in poverty- is due in some part to gentrification of inner city neighborhoods. That exodus has risen to over 60% in recent years and yet, the article said, most suburban governments have failed to establish the resources that had been in place in cities to help the working poor. Mr. Waddell noted, however, that Fairfax County was not one of those governments. He said the county had the foresight to establish a ten year plan to prevent and end homelessness in 2008 and helped form a coalition of nonprofit and public agencies to address homelessness and the county's working poor. Family PASS, he noted, is one of those nonprofit agencies.

Mr. Waddell noted that Fairfax homeless numbers had decreased to 964* last year. However, he cautioned that  the really important number is the 20,000 plus high at-risk population in Fairfax that could could easily become homeless with the loss of a job, a broken car, illness - or a downturn in the economy as happened in 2008.   Family PASS is one of the organizations in Fairfax there to help these people - these families - these working poor and their children --avoid becoming homeless by supporting their efforts to earn a living wage.

There are two realities, Mr. Waddell said -- not only in Fairfax County but across the country --  income disparity and a lack of affordable housing. It is a national problem but especially evident in Fairfax, where the median wage is in the $120,000 range and the median cost of a home is over $500,000; where the working poor are earning $10-$15 an hour. Even at $20 an hour, annual income would be $38,400. Far below the poverty level and certainly far short of the estimated $70,000 it takes a family of four just to stay above water.

Kids Today - They Are Awesome!

Outstanding Service Award to Area Students

Nearly seven years ago, a local student in the Vienna-Oakton area, Kevin McMahon, decided to do something to help others during the Lenten season. He recruited his friends to help prepare a special dinner for their parents who were then asked to donate to a charity.  Two years later, his brother Michael took over and then, two years ago, little sister Caroline, a sixth grader at the time, decided it was her turn.  Since this tradition began, these students have raised nearly $24,000 for charities, including Family PASS.

From Left: Del. Keam, Caroline McMahon, Natalie Becht, Ethan Norman, Norman Boykin and Family PASS President Michael Waddell

On April 25th Family PASS President Michael Waddell and Delegate Keam presented awards to the fifteen eighth grade students involved in this year's Lenten Dinner for their Outstanding Services and Commitment to Prevent and End Homelessness in Fairfax County.  Caroline McMahon, Natalie Becht, Ethan Norman and Norman Boykin attended the breakfast to receive the awards on behalf of their group.

Honorees unable to attend were: Melanie Boyle, Samantha Brohoski, Maya Koebke, Emily Martin, Erin Garvert, Bella Bray, Logan Beahn, Aidan MacGregor, Eli Trax, Tom Katsakos, and Cassie Sweda.  Below is a photo of the group with a cardboard cutout of their Chief Chef, Papa Francesco.

Family PASS Recognition Breakfast Photo Montage

Photos: Courtesy of Tim Coburn Photography

Guests at the Family PASS Recognition Breakfast

Special thanks to the Breakfast Committee for their outstanding work in organizing Family PASS's First Annual Breakfast. Committee members are : Chair Jodi Bentley, Avery Austin, Gabrielle Bezou,  Elisse Brunori,  Patti Cooksey, Debi Dicks, Lee Ellis and Ann Richardson.

Paying It Forward

April 28th was Pay It Forward Day so we wanted to share a little pay it forward one of our client's received.

 

Allana, a domestic violence survivor, and single mom, has been working as a health care provider and is dedicated to overcoming barriers to financial independence.  In the past year, with Family PASS's help, she has taken computer coding courses and is making the transition into management and  with it goes viable access to achieving a living wage. Until last week, however, Allana was without transportation. In the last year, with Family PASS support, she has taken driver's education courses, passed her driving test and is now a licensed driver!  One more obstacle remained: Allana still was unable to afford a car.   Enter Elaine,  a generous donor who offered her car to Family PASS.  Now Allana is thrilled to be able to drive her young son to daycare, commute to and from work, make trips to the grocery store, and to her computer

 courses rather than transferring from bus to bus, with 2-year old and grocery bags in hand.   Driving is an every day convenience most of us take for granted.  Thank you Elaine!

If you have a reliable auto that you would like to donate to Family PASS please contact the office at 703-242-6474.

Family PASS is grateful to the following for their recent contributions to help Family PASS families

 

Family PASS is supported in part with grants from the Consolidated Community Funding Pool of Fairfax County and the Semi and Ruth Begun Foundation.

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