Bailey’s Crossroads homeless shelter to be relocated to Lincolnia
The Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter will be relocated to a temporary facility in a field behind the Lincolnia Senior Center at 4710 N. Chambliss St., Alexandria, according to an announcement posted online by Fairfax County March 29.
The shelter needs to be relocated from its current site on Moncure Avenue in Bailey’s Crossroads to make way for the Southeast Quadrant redevelopment project, which calls for an apartment building on Moncure Street, a county office building on Columbia Pike, and an extension of Seminary Road.
The homeless shelter will operate in a “pre-manufactured, modular structure” for the next four to five years until a permanent site can be found.
The facility will have beds for 50 men and women; 24-hour staffing, including counseling; surface parking; a hypothermia prevention program during the cold months; and fencing, lighting, and other security features.
County officials will hold a community meeting on the proposal April 11, 7 to 9 p.m., in the fellowship room at Peace Lutheran Church, 6362 Lincolnia Road.
Fairfax County officials plan to submit an application on the proposed project to the Planning Commission this week. The Mason District Land Use Committee will discuss the proposal at a public meeting April 26, 7:30 p.m., at the Mason District Government Center. The Planning Commission is expected to hold a public hearing in late May.
If the project is approved, construction would start next fall, and the shelter could open in spring 2017.
42 responses to “Bailey’s Crossroads homeless shelter to be relocated to Lincolnia”
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Seems like a good solution as any we've heard. Now maybe they could match some of the folks from the shelter with the seniors who are at the senior center and love to have visitors.
I hope this is a tongue in cheek comment.
This location is a pan handler's dream!!
Actually, it is not. The presumption that all homeless people are bad or mental ill or would harm seniors is not one that I think would universally be true. I know people who have been homeless and on the whole, they are people who want to contribute and be useful. Perhaps a little compassion going two ways – from seniors who are interested in how they are doing and vice versa would help two groups of people often overlooked. It's no coincidence that they ask kids to do their community service requirements at the Lincoln Senior Center — both parties benefit. And consider this, they don't even screen the kids that do their hours there. I'd advocate for some screening with the homeless folks, but what might make them feel valued is to be appreciated.
This is close to where I live and I don't want to see these people…ewww!!! Hissy fit!!!
Seriously many of the homeless do have mental issues and for people with children that is a great concern so do not make light of other's concerns. This is the problem today when you have an issue instead of listening and coming up with solutions you just try to make them feel bad. Mature way of handling issues.
Up until the last sentence, you were making a ton of sense to me. Then you attacked Anon 4:47, perhaps in attempt to make him/her feel bad…and you lost me.
My understanding of the Baileys Shelter that the participants are not allowed to stay there during the day but must be out on the street. Although the above says there will be 24 hour staffing at the proposed temporary shelter, does that mean the participants can stay there during the day or will they be forced out into the surrounding community?
So they'll be out wandering around our neighborhood during the day. That makes me feel real safe! Sorry kids – no more outdoor play time! Thank goodness we have a security system and dogs!
That area already has panhandlers…..especially at the corner of Little River and Beauregard.
mason district center would have been better
Can't wait to tell my gun guy, he should send out a mailer.
This certainly isn't a prudent decision to put single adult homeless people near fragile seniors. But, then Penny doesn't ask her constituents what they would consider wise.
The homeless vacate the shelter during the day so that daily cleaning can take place. They are allowed to return for lunch and then at the end of the day for dinner and in for the night.
Mason District is like the Titanic, a sinking ship and all the leadership can do is move the deck chairs around: in this case the homeless. I
It is unfortunate situation for them and for those of us whom are being forced now to live amongst them. They should not be concentrated in a facility and left to roam our neighborhoods during the day without supervision. Its a damn shame and all the County can do is play a chess game, and everyone loses. Never have I experienced or lived in a area that is so mismanaged.
Anon 8:23 –
Please share how homeless shelters were handled in previous areas where you have lived.
If this is "mismanaged" by placing homeless shelters where citizens live "amongst them", what exactly do you propose? Moving them to Mexico? West Virginia? Someone else's backyard.
This is the crux of the issue.
Where's the compassion?
The homeless shelter will operate in a “pre-manufactured, modular structure” or in other words: TRAILERS.
Well, trailers are good enough for the school children of Fairfax County to use as learning space, so of course they're good enough for a homeless shelter.
A modular building is not a trailer.
A modular building is one that is fabricated offsite and assembled onsite.
They can and often are deployed successfully and seamlessly in permanent construction.
The church originally being ought as the temporary location for the shelter confirmed that the modulars referenced in the plans were actually trailers and they were unhappy with this.
I sit on the First Christian Church board. I don't know who Anon @ 12:30 has been talking to, but it does not reflect my understanding. "Modular" as Darren describes is what had been discussed in every conversation I was a part of.
So if they are not trailers but they partially manufacture them off-site then bring them in by trucks are they trucklers?
FYI- Modulars in the County are considered permanent structures so this Shelter is thre to stay. When schools get Modulars they are then consider part of the school.
You got what they voted for and it's as far away as possible from lake barcroft and still be in Mason. Thanks to One Cent Gross.
Next time, get yourself to the polls and VOTE.
Not only vote next time, but those who did need to pay attention to the issues.
Party politics do not have role in local elections. In local elections it is important to vote for the candidate's stand on local issues.
Political parties do not have positions on local issues. Voting for a candidate because he/she is a Democrat or a Republican is a losing proposition in a local election.
What has this got to do with Lake Barcroft? Penny didn't win in Lake Barcroft. Pick on another neighborhood.
Why is Penny putting a homeless shelter on the farthest edge of the county? To attract 395 itinerant traffic headed south?
She moved all the social services to Annandale and Merrifield. Those located in Merrifield will not be returning to Mason District.
Seems to me that a homeless shelter located closer to services makes more sense than what is happening. A classic Gross waste of taxpayer money. Just illogical and the BOS rubber stamps her wasteful projects.
Penny's Palace is on the books again. $125M East County Government center human services building on the outskirts of the county to attract intinerant visitors from NY and other locals. Lucky us.
Great!! Now they'll all be out panhandling and jay walking across Beauregard and Little River – as if that area isn't congested enough!! And they'll be close to Total Wine and an ABC store so they can be drunk too! Get the security systems in place!! Thanks Penny Gross!! Let's all make sure she's voted off next election!
I agree with this. I don't care where they put the shelter in terms of the individuals, but damn, that intersection is an extremely poorly designed disaster of cars, pedestrians, buses; etc – NOTHING should be added there until the god awful traffic pattern is mitigated.
Where were all you people during the last election of P. Gross? The person running against her, Mollie Loeffler, was one of the top notch candidates in a long time….yet, Penny got re-elected. When will it stop???????
We were voting for Mollie Loeffler.
Ellie. Perhaps you could run a piece about this shelter. Meet the people who run it, report on their programs and how it works, and perhaps interview some of the residents.
It might shed some light on who really is being served and how they are being served.
Just a thought.
Daren Shumate
We did a piece in October 2013, but the shelter management has changed since then.
http://annandaleva.blogspot.com/2013/10/winter-facilities-desperately-to.html#more
Nicely written, Ellie. Not sure how you can make it a "clickable" link to make it easier to get to but it is eye opening to understand what role this shelter plays.
Additionally, you importantly pointed out that the shelter plays a team role with several local churches and one mosque.
Kudos.
Awwwwww. They're friends now.
Here you go: See 4 hr 31 minute mark
http://video.fairfaxcounty.gov/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=412
Compelling.
A little history. The Baileys Community Shelter was the result of pressure put on the County by local churches who had been operating informal winter programs to shelter the area's homeless. Food was also served until the Health Department claimed that the kitchens did not meet County standards. At that point, the churches turned to the County for a resolution. Commercial property on Columbia Pike and Moncure, convenient to major bus routes, was purchased by the County, who would own the land, build and maintain the building, supplement needed services and hire the Center operator. Nearby residential and business representatives were a vital part of the process. A number of their suggestions were adipted: limiting the number of residents to 50, establishing a Community Advisory Council, maintaining a relationship with the Mason District police station and encouraging community involvement which is an invaluable element of the Shelter's success. Social and medical services were available in both the Baileys and 7 Corners areas and easily accessible.
The homeless shelter at Ft. Belvoir has 17 registered sex offenders listed there.
While I hate the deal the county made for the land swap which precipitated this, there are precious few places where anyone could relocate a homeless shelter without pissing off people. I'd think the only place that could potentially have been less contentious is moving it closer to skyline – back in the more industrial section near the "late night video" where there aren't any next door neighborhoods.
The shelter was fine where it was located off Columbia Pike. If this proposed location passes, expect to see the homeless people asking for money along 236 and Beauregard Street. You will also see them at Landmark Plaza and the shopping center across the street.
Would this new location mean they will have access to the Lincolnia Senior Center when it reopens? Not sure that is the best mix of putting the homeless with the seniors.
Not to mention within striking distance of numerous school bus stops! Check the Fairfax County crime stats near the existing shelter and compare to planned new location. No doubt crime will rise dramatically.