Office to Prevent and End Homelessness

Homeless Services Information

08/03/2026

Extreme Heat Response Plan

When the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory, excessive heat watch, or excessive heat warning, Fairfax County activates its Extreme Heat Response Plan, which includes the following elements:

• Offering space for residents to cool off in an air conditioned area with water available along with other heat-related supplies. Spaces available include libraries, Rec Centers, community centers, and human services regional offices during operating hours.
• Providing messaging through the County’s communications platforms about resources available and preventing heat-related illnesses.
• Sending targeted messages through Fairfax Alerts to unsheltered residents.
• Activating overflow shelter space at the County’s emergency homeless shelters.
• Deploying homeless services outreach staff to check on unsheltered residents and provide them with supplies.

Bus passes and additional resources for heat supplies are provided by the County to homeless services providers. The County has also made it easy for unsheltered residents to sign up for Fairfax alerts by texting FFXOPEH to 888-777.

Click the link below to view the Extreme Heat Response Plan for Fairfax County: 

Extreme Heat Response

Click the link below to access an interactive map of cooling station locations. 

Fairfax County Cooling Center Locations

Medicaid Policy Changes

A federal law enacted in July 2025 made changes to the Medicaid (Medical Assistance). that will start on October 1, 2026. Medicaid will have eligibility changes for non-citizen adults, a new Work and Community Engagement requirement, reduced retroactive coverage periods, and six-month renewals for certain adults. Fairfax County's Department of Family Services' priorities are to help keep every eligible individual covered and connect those who lose eligibility with alternative medical care options. 

Click the links below to learn more about all changes to Medicaid. 

Recent and Upcoming Changes to Benefits/Family Services

Learn More

Click the link below to schedule an information session about these changes.

Outreach Request Form

Continuum of Care Board Meeting The Continuum of Care (CoC) Board was developed to provide leadership in preventing and ending homelessness in the Fairfax-Falls Church community. The CoC Board acts on behalf of the "Continuum of Care", which is a partnership of representatives from organizations in the Fairfax-Falls Church community with an interest and role in serving people experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness. The next Fairfax County Continuum of Care Board meeting will be held on August 19, 2026, at the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority building located at 3700 Pender Drive, Fairfax, VA in Room 102 starting at 7:00 pm.

TRAINING

Training Calendar and Registration

The Office to Prevent and End Homelessness is hosting a wide variety of trainings throughout the year, including: Trauma-Informed Care & De-escalation; Domestic Violence 101; Safe Zone "Allyship" Training; Mandatory Reporting; Harm Reduction & Low Barrier Homeless Services; Fair Housing; Housing Location Basics; Rental Fundamentals; Reasonable Accommodation; Equity: "Examining the Heart of the Helper: Confronting Bias and Fostering Belonging"; Homeless Problem Solving "Diversion" Training; and MANDT System Certification. 

Click here to view upcoming trainings and register.