Homeless Children Shop with Sheriff's Department for School Supplies

Twenty-five homeless children received $200 shopping sprees for school supplies, clothes and other necessities from the Fairfax County Sheriff's Department today.

The annual "Shop with the Sheriff" event has increased greatly in popularity since it started 17 years ago with five children. The Sheriff's Office donated the $200 gift cards and took the students around the Target on Guinea Road in Fairfax, behind the Burke Centre VRE Station.

"Many years ago, you'd have to go around and talk to people about it to get volunteers," Sheriff Stan Barry said.

Barry said a mere three hours after his department sent out the e-mail announcing the event this year, they had all the volunteers they needed. "It's very popular for the deputies even though it's on their own time because they've all heard how fun it is," Berry said.

"By itself the beginning of school can be a tense time," Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Sharon Bulova, who attended the event, said. "Not having what you need really adds to that stress."

Bulova also stopped by a backpack drive in Alexandria hosted by a Fire and Rescue the same day.

"Public Safety plays a really significant role in preparing our students for school, which makes them better citizens," Bulova said. She emphasized the quality of education in Fairfax County, saying, "Whatever background you come from in Fairfax County, you get the same outstanding education and the same opportunity to succeed."

The students, ranging from primary age to teenagers, are current residents of the Katherine K. Hanley in Fairfax and the Patrick Henry Family Shelters in Falls Church. As Virginia law permits homeless students to stay at the same school they attended prior to losing their home, these students attend schools all over the county. It is estimated that there are over 1,500 people homeless in Fairfax County. Over 800 people included in this number are considered members of a family.

The Sheriff's department allowed the shelter administration to choose the children for the event.

"I tried to get a good chunk of our teens out there," Victor Dooley of the Patrick Henry Shelter said. "They can get some clothes, making the social aspect less awkward."

Fairfax County's Office to Prevent and End Homelessness manages the two family shelters, though nonprofit Shelter House, Inc. runs the daily operations of the buildings.

Both shelters operate under the "Housing First" plan, which emphasizes moving people who are homeless into permanent housing as quickly as possible. The concept provides a quicker road to self-sufficiency and independence for the families, giving them the stability needed to find jobs and improve their lives. The clients can use supportive services offered by the shelters while in permanent housing. Housing First also decreases the cost of the shelters to taxpayers.

The program appears to be working well so far, as the total number of homeless in the Fairfax-Falls Church community has decreased by 11 percent in the past year, despite the continuing recession, according to the 2009-2010 accomplishments document released by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Partnership on Ending Homelessness.

"Our waiting lists [for the shelters] have grown, but we're definitely having an effect," John Callahan of the Katherine K. Family Shelter said.

Bulova is confident that the county's goal to end homelessness in the area by December 2018 is reachable.

"People say 'that's an impossible plan,' but we're really making progress," Bulova said. "There's an impressive business-like plan to make sure we're approaching the issue of homelessness in a compassionate but effective way. It's been very very successful."