Fairfax NAACP Urges County To Boost FY2027 Spending On Housing, Schools, Justice

FAIRFAX, VA — The Fairfax County NAACP used a public budget hearing on Tuesday to urge county lawmakers to make larger FY2027 investments in affordable housing, public education, emergency assistance and legal defense.

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In testimony before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the organization said those areas are among its top priorities for underserved communities across the county. The testimony focused on housing access, rental assistance, behavioral health response, indigent defense and school funding.

“The budget reflects the values and priorities of our community,” said Les Shockley, budget committee chair and second vice president of the Fairfax County NAACP, in testimony before the Board of Supervisors. “We are urging the Board to make meaningful investments that ensure every resident has access to stable housing, quality education, and a fair justice system.”

The group said Fairfax County faces a widening gap between housing goals and actual access for homebuyers. It also pointed to emergency housing and rent support as a priority, saying a single crisis can lead to displacement and arguing for expanded rental assistance and stronger pre-eviction protections.

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The NAACP testimony also called for sustained investment in co-responder teams and mobile crisis units, which it described as a proven crisis response model needed to meet rising behavioral health needs. The group also highlighted the Public Defender’s Office, saying underfunding affects detention time, caseloads and access to equitable representation.

Public education was another focus of the testimony. The organization said retaining strong educators in Fairfax County remains important and raised the issue of what full contract funding would signal for the future of Fairfax schools.

The full Fairfax County NAACP budget testimony is available online, according to the release. For residents following the county budget process, the next step would be action by the Board of Supervisors as the FY2027 budget moves forward, though no timetable was included in the material provided.