Tag: government services
More rental assistance available for those with serious mental illness
The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) approved a $20 million agreement with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services earlier this month to increase access to supportive, affordable rental housing options for those with serious mental illness. The additional funding is expected to help prevent homelessness among this population and reduce … Continued
Big increases proposed for building and zoning fees
Fairfax County building and rezoning fees could rise as much as 35 percent under a proposal drafted by county staff. Bill Hicks, the director of Land Development Services, told the Board of Supervisors’ Land Policy Committee that the fees have to be raised because of inflation, increased staffing, increased employee compensation, and the requirement that … Continued
New DMV center to open this month
A new Department of Motor Vehicles Service Center is scheduled to open Jan. 22 at 9855 Braddock Road in Fairfax. It will replace the much smaller one in Fair Oaks Mall, which is closing on Jan. 11. The new DMV center will have 20 service windows, a new countertop design to improve customer flow, and … Continued
Free consulting available for small businesses
Small businesses struggling financially could be eligible for free consulting services from Fairfax County worth up to $10,000. The county’s Department of Economic Initiatives is opening a second round of Thrive funds. Applications will open on Jan. 16. The first round of Thrive, which closed Dec. 21, provided assistance to 250 businesses. Applications will be … Continued
Investigation urged for FBI site selection process
Members of Virginia’s congressional delegation are demanding an investigation into the General Services Administration’s decision-making process for relocating the FBI headquarters. On Nov. 8, the GSA announced the FBI would move from its current building in Washington to Greenbelt in Prince George’s County, Md., rather than Springfield, Va., or Landover, Md. Both Virginia and Maryland had … Continued
County backs off plan to eliminate vacuum leaf service next year
Mason District residents concerned about Fairfax County’s plan to eliminate vacuum leaf service are getting a temporary reprieve. An Oct. 16 email from Mason Supervisor Penny Gross says the director of the Public Works and Environmental Services Department is “withdrawing the staff proposal to end county vacuum leaf service next winter.” “The withdrawal will provide … Continued
New resource center will help people representing themselves in court
A new Self-Help Resource Center at the law library in the Fairfax County courthouse will provide assistance to people who represent themselves in court. The center will be open to the public and will offer resources to anyone interacting with the judicial system as litigants, prospective litigants, witnesses, or who simply have business with the … Continued
Board sets hearing on sanitary district for Holmes Run neighborhood
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 12 authorized a public hearing on a proposal to create a sanitary district in the Holmes Run area of Mason District. The hearing will be held on Oct. 24 at 4 p.m. If the board approves the proposal, the affected area will receive trash and recycling services … Continued
Fairfax County will hand out monthly cash payments to struggling families
Fairfax County is launching an Economic Mobility Pilot next month to provide cash payments to 180 eligible households who are struggling economically but earn too much to qualify for federal assistance programs. Participating families will receive a monthly payment of $750 for 15 months. They could use the money for anything they want. They could … Continued
Fairfax County activates ‘heat plan’
In response to rising temperatures, Fairfax County has activated its “heat plan” for Thursday and Friday to help at-risk residents keep cool. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Thursday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Northern Virginia, with “heat values up to 106 expected.” An excessive heat … Continued
Fairfax County could end leaf vacuum service
The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) is recommending the Board of Supervisors end the vacuum leaf collection service. The county vacuums fall leaf piles on curbs for 25,000 customers, the vast majority of whom live in Mason District. Customers are encouraged to take a survey to inform policymakers about the … Continued
Culmore festival brings the community together
Dozens of people enjoyed music and dance performances and learned about community resources at Culmore Community Day on May 6. The event, at the Woodrow Wilson Library, featured traditional dances and songs from Bolivia, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, and Korea. Children got a chance to do a science experiment hosted by Mad Science, paint a cardboard … Continued
Sen. Warner meets with the Korean community
In a meeting with the Korean community in Annandale April 22, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) spoke about issues ranging from the need to support local businesses to the reunification of Korea. Warner said he supports initiatives to help small businesses gain access to capital, increased investments in education and affordable housing, and efforts to crack … Continued
Post office lobby closed at night
The lobby at the Annandale Post Office at 4270 John Marr Drive is no longer open 24/7. A sign on the front door says: “We apologize for any inconvenience. This P.O. is temporarily closed during the night for safety purposes.” At least eight homeless people were camping out in the lobby urinating and pooping … Continued
Petition process reinstated for county trash service
Fairfax County has reopened the process to allow neighborhoods to petition for county trash and recycling services. The Department of Public Works and Environmental Services had previously placed a moratorium on requests for new or expanded Sanitary Districts because the county didn’t have enough drivers to handle more capacity. Meanwhile, demand for county trash services … Continued