Fairfax County housing officials say they need $10 million next budget year if Fairfax County is to make a dent in its goal to end homelessness this decade.
But the county’s coffers are depleted — an inevitable link with a robust homeless population — hamstringing efforts to help.
As county supervisors await a Feb. 23 budget proposal from County Executive Anthony Griffin — which will outline plans to meet a $316 million budget shortfall — they aren’t making any promises.
“We’ll do the best we can,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova, adding they would look for a way to help the homeless without destroying education and public safety initiatives, which usually take top priority.
Homeless-prevention advocates say they need more than $7 million immediately to provide housing for more than 360 of the most urgent households stuck on a waiting list, to rehabilitate Alexandria’s Lincolnia Senior Center and provide long-term rental subsidies.
Pink slips and shuttered homes have pushed some into the homeless ranks for the first time, but the county seems to be rebounding.
Fairfax County has 1,730 homeless people, according to the most recent numbers, a 5 percent dropfrom 2008. County officials attribute the decrease to enhanced cooperation among agencies helping the needy.
While supervisors recognized the need, they questioned if budget issues would keep them from funding the requests.
“What do we do with this when we don’t have $10 [million] or even $7 [million]?” asked Braddock District Supervisor John Cook. “I don’t know where it comes from.”
Bulova said at least $4 million would come from permanent financing tied to Wedgewood Apartments, an affordable housing complex in Annandale. Beyond that, she said supervisors would have to look for creative ways to find money.
Less urgent, housing officials want to develop North Hill Park, along Richmond Highway in southern Fairfax County, and devote $2.3 million to 100 additional housing units for low- and moderate-income residents.
Around 12,500 households are on the Fairfax County Housing and Redevelopment waiting list, with 100 more waiting for shelter openings.
