Campout Raises Awareness Of Homelessness At Mount Vernon Church

MOUNT VERNON, VA — The cold, rainy weather didn't stop over 50 people from camping outside a church in Mount Vernon to raise awareness for homelessness on Saturday, Nov. 23. After all, it's not a choice homeless people can make on any given night.

Good Shepherd Catholic Church held its seventh annual Homeless for a Night Campout to cast a light on the needs of the homeless population that struggles with securing stable housing. Participants built their own cardboard shelters and ate and slept on the grounds of the church. There was also a presentation on Christ House, a ministry Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington provides. Services include transitional housing, counseling and job mentoring for 14 homeless men, as well as a food pantry, emergency financial assistance, clothing ministry, thrift store and nightly meal served since 1974. Volunteers with Christ House prepared an evening meal similar to those served to the homeless.

The parish also collected socks for the local hypothermia shelter at Rising Hope United Methodist Church and fresh oranges and apples to be distributed through Catholic Charities’ St. Lucy Project.

"Those who camp out literally feel the pain of a cold and damp dark night, and parishioners who see the camp on the way into church are moved to be ever more generous in providing food, clothing and shelter for those who are homeless in our community," said Father Thomas Ferguson, the pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

The last point-in-time count of the homeless population in January 2019 found 1,034 people in Fairfax County. This included 150 families and 329 children. The count represented a 5 percent increase from the 2018 point-in-time count. In the City of Alexandria, the 198 homeless people counted reflected a 12 percent decline from 2018.

To help fight homelessness in the local area this winter, residents can support Catholic Charities as well as Carpenter's Shelter, New Hope Housing, Lamb Center, Bethany House, Cornerstones, Shelter House, FACETS and Northern Virginia Family Service. You can also check with places of worship for donation drives.

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