Hypothermia Shelter Program Begins For Season In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — To keep homeless residents out of the harsh winter weather, the hypothermia prevention program is starting for the season at locations around Fairfax County.

The program, which runs from Dec. 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, provides warm shelter, food and other services to adults in immediate need of shelter. Fairfax County has run the program since 2005 with the intent of preventing death and serious injury to homeless residents during the colder months.

The program serves around 1,000 people each year and an estimated 215 people per night last season. Aside from providing a warm place to sleep and eat, the program connects unsheltered residents to other resources like clothing, employment, housing and more.

"These services are made possible through the extraordinary assistance and contribution of local non-profits, houses of worship, and dozens of volunteers to work tirelessly to ensure that nobody should have to sleep outside during the winter," said Tom Barnett, the deputy director of the county's Department of Housing and Community Development.

Locations of the hypothermia prevention program are:

• Eleanor Kennedy Shelter: 9155 Richmond Highway, Fort Belvoir, open 24/7
• Rising Hope United Methodist Mission Church: 8220 Russell Road, Alexandria, open 6:30 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• Embry Rucker Community Shelter: 11975 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston (open 24/7), contact 703-437-1975
• North County Human Services Center: 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston (open 5 p.m. to 7 a.m.)
• Bailey’s Shelter and Supportive Housing: 5914 Seminary Road, Falls Church (open 24/7), contact 703-820-7621
• Friends of Falls Church Winter Shelter: 17 Gordon Road, Falls Church, VA (open 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.), contact ahayles@newhopehousing.org or lhyman@newhopehousing.org
• Rotating faith community sites in Falls Church and Alexandria addresses in Fairfax County, contact 703-820-7621
• Rotating faith Community sites in Fairfax and Centreville, contact 703-352-5090

One of the programs with rotating locations is run by the nonprofit FACETS. The nonprofit's program at faith communities in the Fairfax area has an extended season beyond the county's program — Nov. 27 to April 1.

Joe Fay, executive director of FACETS, said in a news release that there are 29 participating faith communities this year. Faith communities provide meals and shelter for the program, while FACETS offers personalized case management to all guests to help them find stable housing.

Unsheltered adults with children can get referrals to services by contacting the county's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For after-hours support, contact one of the family shelters:

• Katherine K. Hanley Family Shelter: 12970 Katherine Hanley Court, Fairfax, VA 22030, contact 571-522-6800
• Embry Rucker Community Shelter: 11975 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, VA 20190, contact 703-437-1975
• Patrick Henry Family Shelter: 3080 Patrick Henry Drive, Falls Church, VA 22044, contact 703-536-2155

Hypothermia happens when a person has prolonged exposure to extreme cold temperatures and the body loses heat faster than it produces heat. Warning signs of hypothermia can include confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking, drowsiness and stiff muscles. A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious with cold skin and rigid muscles.

Residents can call for help if they see someone in need who may be at risk of hypothermia. If you see an unsheltered person who may be at risk of hypothermia, call the non-emergency police phone number at 703-691-2131, and a police officer will do a welfare check. If a person appears to be in distress, call 911.