social services | FFXnow

Published October 10, 2023 at 11:45AM

My Market is stocked with both perishable and nonperishable food (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Finding sufficient, quality food remains a challenge for many people across the D.C. area, even with the immediate economic disruptions triggered by the pandemic in the rear view mirror, the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) says in a new report.

Released last month, the nonprofit’s 2023 Hunger Report found that the region is still seeing elevated levels of food insecurity that are nearly identical to what was reported a year earlier. In Fairfax County, 24% of residents are food insecure — the exact same percentage as in 2022.

Countywide

Fairfax County to experiment with monthly payments to families in need this fall

By Vivian Hoang

Published August 17, 2023 at 11:45AM

Person counts dollar bills (via Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash)

This fall, Fairfax County will launch a guaranteed income pilot program, following in the footsteps of neighbors including Arlington County and Alexandria.

The upcoming Fairfax County Economic Mobility Pilot (FCEMP) will begin providing families with monthly payments totaling $2 million to “promote economic stability and social capital,” according to a press release.

News

New community services room brings Fairfax County resources to Tysons Corner Center

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 27, 2023 at 1:30PM

Inside Fairfax County's new Community Services Room at Tysons Corner Center (courtesy Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood & Community Services)

Soon, Tysons Corner Center visitors will be able to access the internet for free, check out a library book and learn how to prepare for college or a career all from the same room.

After closing at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fairfax County’s Community Services Room at the mall will reopen on Saturday (July 29) with an expanded array of services.

Countywide

Rise in child welfare cases puts strain on Fairfax County’s volunteer court advocates

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 5, 2023 at 11:45AM

Volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates get sworn in (courtesy Fairfax CASA)

Fairfax County’s child welfare system has seen abuse and neglect cases surge over the past year, taxing the dozens of volunteers charged with advocating for those children in foster care and court.

As of May, over 188 new kids have been placed in foster care or under a protective court order since July 1, 2022 — nearly double the 98 cases added the previous year, according to Fairfax CASA, a nonprofit that trains and supervises volunteer, court-appointed special advocates for children.

Countywide

Surging prices, inflation push food insecurity to new heights in Fairfax County

By Fatimah Waseem

Published July 19, 2022 at 3:45PM | Updated October 9, 2023 at 2:43PM

A food and resource distribution drive in Reston last month drew hundreds (Photo via Cornerstones).

Prior to the pandemic, Fairfax County had the highest amount of food insecurity in the state. Now, some advocates say that number has more doubled.

According to the Fairfax Food Council and other county and local advocates, food insecurity remains a growing challenge for moderate-income families in what is a high cost-of-living area.

News

Fairfax County seeks to break cycle of poverty with basic income pilot

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 12, 2022 at 3:30PM

Person counts dollar bills (via Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash)

A pilot program that will give monthly cash assistance to select low-income residents is in development in Fairfax County.

While eligibility criteria, payment amounts, and other details are still being determined, the county has allocated $1.5 million to the effort from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, as noted in a stimulus update to the Board of Supervisors’ budget policy committee yesterday (Tuesday).