March 20, 2024

Neighbors,

As I have mentioned many times, housing with wrap-around support services is key to reducing chronic homelessness in our community — this is also known as permanent supportive housing. I am very happy to announce that last week the county’s Redevelopment and Housing Authority approved a game-changing partnership with the state to provide 300 new supportive rental assistance vouchers available to residents with serious mental illness and three new staff positions to operate the countywide program.

There are still a lot of details to go through, but this is great news for the county and Hunter Mill District. I am grateful that the state is making this critical investment of $20 million to enable us to house our most vulnerable residents and to get them the related services that they need. Affordable and permanent supportive housing is a high priority for me and my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors and this gave our efforts a great boost!

To put this new rental assistance in perspective, the county had about 680 permanent supportive housing units available in 2022. However, there were more than 1,300 people experiencing homelessness based on the county’s most recent 2023 point-in-time count. While the full details for this annual count aren’t available yet, around 26% of people experiencing homelessness have serious mental illness, according to the 2022 numbers.

This new partnership won’t solve our unhoused and affordable housing challenges — but it’s a major step forward. Thank you Commonwealth of Virginia! Learn more. If you have questions about this new program, contact my office at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Regards,

Walter

Offer your input on the county executive’s proposed budget during two of my town hall meetings. I want to hear from you.

Hunter Mill District Town Hall Meetings:

• TONIGHT: March 20, 7 p.m. in-person at Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave. East, Vienna. Enter from the library's side entrance.
• March 25, 7 p.m. virtual, use this link to attend and participate. You may also call in and listen to the meeting, dial 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID: 952 967 568#

For more information about these meetings, email paul.davisjr@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-478-0283. You also can email me your questions at huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Learn More About the Proposed Budget and Tax Rates:

• Proposed Budget Presentation (PDF)
• Budget At A Glance (PDF)
• FY 2025 Budget Timeline
• Watch the FY 2025 Proposed Budget Presentation

The Board of Supervisors met yesterday, Feb. 6. You can watch the meeting here and review the Board agenda and package. I participated in the proclamation of Transgender Visibility Day, and Rev. Emma Chattin and others who accepted the recognition received a standing ovation from the board.

I also presented five board matters:

• Recognizing the South Lakes High School Boys Basketball Team for Winning the State Championship
• Proclaiming May as Older Americans and Adult Abuse Prevention Month
• Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of Viva Vienna!
• Requesting an inventory of Reston community-level services and infrastructure
• Requesting a budget consideration item for an additional $500,000 to the library’s book collection budget

Drop off new and sealed packages of tampons, pads, liners and menstrual cups at the Hunter Mill District Office, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, on Mondays to Fridays between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. This supply drive ends on March 29. Your donations will benefit the Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters or BRAWS. Learn more.

Take the Accessible Parking Survey

As we modernize parking regulations through Parking Reimagined, Land Development Services staff are working to ensure that an adequate supply of accessible parking is available throughout the county. If you or a family member are entitled to use off-street accessible parking, please support the modernization efforts by completing the Accessible Parking Survey before April 15.

Workforce Dwelling Unit (WDU) For-Sale Policy Revisions Virtual Open House

Guided by the recommendations of the WDU For-Sale Policy Task Force, county staff are developing revisions to the WDU for-sale policy. To provide your feedback on the proposed changes, attend a virtual open house on tonight Wednesday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. Use this link to attend and participate, or call in by dialing 571-429-5982 and use conference call ID 308 897 607#

Historic Bridge Grand Reopening

Stroll across the new pedestrian bridge that connects the W&OD Trail with the Freeman Store. The newly completed bridge opened last week. Join me at the official reopening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the bridge on Saturday, March 23, at 10 a.m. outside the Freeman Store and Museum, 131 Church Street, NE.

Refreshments will be served afterwards with a chance to see new museum exhibits too. For more information, call 703-938-5187 or email HistoricViennaVa@gmail.com.

Reston District Police Station Community Engagement Meeting March 27

The Reston District Station is hosting a Community Advisory Committee meeting next week, March 27, 7 p.m. at the Cathy Hudgins Community Center, 12125 Pinecrest Road, Reston. These meetings are open to anyone who's interested. Officers will provide updates and answer questions on public safety issues. For more information email jenette.post@fairfaxcounty.gov.

See the Cherry Blossoms

Have you seen the cherry blossoms yet? I caught them nearly at peak bloom on Sunday at the Tidal Basin, but you can also enjoy them at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens which has more than 100 cherry trees. Peak bloom at this garden is forecast for March 30 to April 2. If you’re a photographer, register for their sunrise cherry blossom photo workshops on March 22, March 23 or March 24.

Become a Carousel Operator

Frying Pan Farm Park is looking for full-time or part-time volunteers to operate its historic 1920s Herschell carousel. Volunteer operators are need once a week and help staff in the country store in between rides. Sign up.

Apply for Tax Relief on March 25

Get help applying for real estate and personal property tax relief at a workshop on Monday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North County Governmental Center, 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston. Registration is required. Please call (703) 324-3747 or email taxrelief@fairfaxcounty.gov. Tax relief is offered to seniors and people with permanent disabilities within certain income limits.

After 18 years of public service with Fairfax County, my Communications Director Lisa Connors is retiring. Some of you may know her personally, but many of you probably know her from this weekly newsletter. I have heard from so many of you that you actually read it, and that you find it interesting, as well as informative – that is our goal. Lisa has made that happen. And even though it is published under my name, behind the scenes she was its creator, author and editor. (I just get the final review!) Before joining the Hunter Mill office, she worked with the Office of Public Affairs, Office of Elections, Police Department and many other county agencies.

Now, she'll have time to devote herself full-time to what she loves the most: her husband John, son Jack and daughter Meg; traveling; hiking; exploring the outdoors and bike riding! (I suspect we’ll see her at the upcoming May 5 Tour de Hunter Mill.)

However, she won't ending her service to the community because she volunteers at the Robinson Secondary School as part of the Fairfax County Public Schools' MentorWorks program.

I want to congratulate and thank Lisa on her long career in public service and a well-deserved retirement!