ReZoom

Region #15: Fairfax, VA

Fairfax Area Christian Emergency & Transitional Services, Inc. (FACETS) provides emergency and transitional services to impoverished women, children and men on spiritual, physical and emotional levels. The group offers a wide array of programs, including counseling, advocacy, life skills training, job readiness, credit and budget counseling. They also offer hot meals to those who are homeless and public housing communities for low-income families.

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Winning Regional Essay

"FACETS has been a supportive haven for impoverished men, women and children in Northern Virginia for the past 18 years. We provide emergency and transitional services, including comprehensive programs that address physical, spiritual and emotional needs for homeless and low-income families and individuals. FACETS offers food, shelter, medical assistance, counseling and educational programs so we can break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Northern Virginia. Our goal is to not only manage homelessness, but to end it."

"Our programs consist of three core services: Homeless Intervention Services (HIS), Home Connections Supportive Housing (SH), and Family Enrichment Services (FES). HIS meets immediate basic needs and assists families and individuals in taking steps necessary to securing long-term housing."

"Its services include comprehensive support via outreach, assessment, counseling, advocacy, life skills training, job readiness, credit and budget counseling, and information and referral to homeless individuals and families throughout Fairfax County. In addition, HIS holds an annual Hypothermia Prevention Response Program that works to protect individuals during the winter months, typically feeding and sheltering up to 80 guests per night.

FACETS volunteers also cook and deliver Hot Meals to homeless families and individuals living in the woods, in their cars, under bridges and in motels 365 evenings per year "serving nearly 40,000 meals annually."

"The Supportive Housing program currently provides an exciting alternative for four formerly homeless families and one single adult. With the help of dedicated social workers, Supportive Housing offers a helping hand to homeless families by providing stable, Supportive Housing for up to two years. While in the program, individuals learn skills, pay down debt and save money, helping to ensure their self-sufficiency once they graduate from the program. Supportive Housing lifts families from homelessness to housing " one family at a time."

"Finally, FES offers on-site educational and enrichment programs, as well as intensive case management services, to more than 300 at risk adults and children living in three Fairfax County public housing communities. Programs include Exploring the Arts, College Preparation, Homework Hotspots, Youth Mentoring, Girl Power!, Boys Group, Computer Classes, Summer Camps, English as a Second Language, Adult Mentoring, and Circle of Neighbors (community building training for adults.)"

If They Won the $100,000 National Award ...

"FACETS has been a supportive haven for men, women and children who are homeless and impoverished in Northern Virginia for the past 19 years. Providing emergency and transitional services, FACETS offers comprehensive programs that address physical, spiritual and emotional needs for families and individuals who are homeless and poverty-stricken. By offering shelter for individuals during the winter months and year-round food, clothing, medical assistance, counseling and educational programs, FACETS strives to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty."

"Working within a County that encompasses more than 400 square miles, FACETS' ability to address the needs of the families and individuals who are homeless in Fairfax is unique in that it is the only organization offering a full spectrum of services including basic needs assistance, financial assistance, counseling and outreach, educational enrichment programs, transitional supportive housing, and permanent supportive housing. In addition, FACETS serves low-income and impoverished families living in three public housing communities in Fairfax County in a unique effort to prevent homelessness in the future."

"While FACETS is able to provide various services and types of assistance for clients, and was able to serve more than 2,000 individuals in 2006, the $100,000 from the Rezoom: A Better World contest would be instrumental in helping FACETS respond to the needs of even more clients, providing them with both extensive services and resources, but also with permanent housing.FACETS' mission is to not merely provide services for the poverty-stricken, but to work actively to END homelessness."

Mission & Vision

Mission: Our mission at FACETS is to build strong families and safe communities by improving the quality of life for impoverished men, women and children through comprehensive programs addressing physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

Vision: Our vision at FACETS is to be the trusted, primary catalyst for bringing together those who have a need with those who can help meet the need to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Fairfax, Virginia.