BoS forms commission on military issues

The Board of Supervisors earlier this week approved a resolution to create the Fairfax County Veterans and Military Families Commission.

“I look forward to service members, veterans, and military families having their own county commission to share what programs are working for them, what gaps can be filled, and how we can best support those who have served our nation in uniform,” said Supervisor James Walkinshaw (Braddock).

The group’s purpose, as stated in the resolution, is “to identify the unique issues and challenges faced by Fairfax County veterans, military retirees, and their families to connect them with services and supports, address gaps in services and opportunities, improve access to service systems, and enhance the institutional structures across the continuum of care for the military community.”

The commission would consider such issues as affordable housing, food insecurity, affordable childcare, military veteran and spousal employment, mental health and medical treatment, justice-related issues, homelessness, and military-connected educational challenges.

The commission will have 20 members, including six at-large members nominated by the board chair.

The other members would be nominated by George Mason University, Northern Virginia Community College, Fairfax County Public Schools, the Fort Belvoir Army Base Installation, the American Legion, the Fairfax County Community Services Board Veterans Treatment Docket, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, DC VA Medical Center, the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Health Department, the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The commission’s appointed members will be approved at the Board of Supervisors’ April 30 meeting. Members will serve three-year terms and will begin meeting this summer.

The composition of the commission will reflect a variety of racial/ethnic, religious, age, gender identity, disability, and other diverse backgrounds.

The at-large members will be representative of the veterans’ community in the county, including the different branches of the armed forces, different ranks and areas of service, including officers and enlisted members, and spouses and relatives of veterans.