During some of the coldest days of the year, it’s hard to imagine not having anywhere to go to warm up with the help of heat, blankets and perhaps even a hot drink.
Yet, that is the case for hundreds of homeless around Fairfax County and the Alexandria area.
The County’s Hypothermia Prevention Program is in full force this time of year, seeking out people who are underprivileged and homeless and providing them with emergency shelter and supplies, in the hopes that no one will be left out in the cold this winter.
Last year, more than 2,000 volunteers provided emergency hypothermia shelter and services to more than 1,000 homeless throughout the county. In addition to five shelters operated by the county, more than 44 faith organizations partnered with the program to provide additional facilities for housing those in need.
(story continues below)
1 of 3
New Hope Housing
Volunteers from Beth El Hebrew Congregation at a local shelter this winter
2 of 3
New Hope Housing
Christmas volunteers at Bailey's Shelter.
3 of 3
Fairfax County
The sleeping area at one of Fairfax County's shelters.
During the winter months of December to March each year, the county goes into what it calls its “No Turn-Away” protocol. Even if shelters are over capacity, they will take a person in from the cold—because in freezing temperatures, a person doesn’t have to be outside long before their life is in serious danger.
“People can die from hypothermia,” county representatives say on the program’s website.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the body goes into hypothermia when one’s temperature falls to 95 degrees or below. The condition can cause some frightening symptoms, including uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and exhaustion.
The body parts most easily affected by the cold are the nose, ears, toes, cheeks, chin and fingers, according to the CDC.
These days, as the D.C. Metro area experiences what is typically its coldest month of the year, Fairfax County’s shelters and hypothermia prevention volunteers are out in full force, says Jan-Michael Sacharko, the director of development for New Hope Housing in Alexandria, which participates in the program.
“The shelters have definitely been full,” says Sacharko.
During “No Turn-Away” months, Sacharko says if a facility is full when someone shows up needing shelter, they will take the person in and reach out to other locations that may have more room, but he says the person is guaranteed shelter no matter what.
As an example, Sacharko explains that the Eleanor U. Kennedy Shelter on Richmond Highway in Alexandria will typically offer about 50 beds, and will squeeze in around 30 more overflow beds during “No Turn-Away” months. At that point, if more people are still in need of shelter, Sacharko says they will start contacting nearby houses of worship such as Rising Hope United Methodist Church on Russell Road, along with other locations, that have partnered with the program and are willing to take people in.
“The level of collaboration between Fairfax County staff, faith communities, volunteers, and the nonprofits engaged in the hypothermia prevention program is really amazing,” adds Pamela Michell, executive director of New Hope Housing.
The volunteers are so amazing, say Sacharko and Michell, that groups will actually go out in freezing-cold temperatures looking for people living or sleeping outdoors to try and bring them in to one of the 49 shelters open county-wide this winter.
“A medical volunteer, along with a psychiatric volunteer and a representative from the shelters will regularly go out in teams, making connections with people they see, and visiting well-known homeless camps, to try and convince them to come in from the cold,” he explains. “And this goes on year-round, on a regular basis, but it definitely steps up during the cold months.”
And, Sacharko and Michell add, it’s more than just a place to sleep for the night. In addition to shelter, most of the program’s facilities will provide hot meals, warm clothes, and even basic medical care by nurses that will come through the shelter daily. There are also counselors available for psychiatric needs, as well as employment and housing assistance.
“This is a caring community that works hard to ensure that no one suffers in the cold,” says Michell.
Sacharko and Michell pointed out that if anyone sees someone out in the cold that looks like they are suffering or are in need of shelter, they can call the Fairfax County Hypothermia Prevention Program’s tip line at (703) 691-2131. It is recommended that callers report exactly where they saw the person, and what they look like and what they are wearing, to make it easy for a volunteer to respond and locate them.
In addition, families who need shelter who have access to a phone can call the county’s Coordinated Services Planning department at (703) 222-0880 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to gain access to a shelter. Outside of those hours, families should just report to the closest shelter, officials say.
In addition, people who want to help can donate winter items that are in need at various shelters, such as towels, blankets, toiletries, and winter hats, mittens and scarves. If you have donation items, Sacharko said to call ahead to one of the county’s shelters to check first before dropping items off.
Call the Fairfax County non-emergency line at (703) 691-2131 if you see someone in need of emergency shelter. Learn more about the county’s Hypothermia Prevention Program online at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/hypothermia-prevention-program.
