Deputy County Executive, Elijah Johnson, briefs supervisors on status of the homeless in shelters and camps.During the past weather emergency, Supervisor Peter Candland and Board of Supervisors Chairman at-Large Corey Stewart requested state aid from Governor McAuliffe to assist the unsheltered homeless populations.
“In the face of the declaration of emergency by Governor McAuliffe, Chairman Stewart and I asked for the order to be extended to protect the unsheltered homeless who face life-threatening conditions without some emergency help to protect them.”
Read the letter here.
Additionally, the two board members asked that there be a presentation on the status of the homeless at the board’s most recent meeting Feb. 17.
Patrick Collins, Emergency Service Manager for the Department of Fire and Rescue said that the local government is responsible for managing local emergencies. However, local governments work cooperatively with the state government, which can turn to FEMA on their behalf for federal assistance.
Collins reported that the county, volunteers and the Red Cross were available to open impromptu shelters if needed. He said if needed they could be open within an hour.
However, those emergency shelters were not required since beds were still available at existing county shelters including Prince William County Winter Shelter, Hilda Barg Shelter, Manassas Baptist Church, SERVE and the Beverly Warren Shelter.
“Another shelter last night was not opened because existing shelters did not reach their full capacity,” Collins said.
Still, just because there were beds available, does not mean that all homeless availed themselves of those beds.
According to Deputy County Executive Elijah Johnson, many did not want to abandon their camps and risk losing their tents and possessions.
“We can’t force them into any type of sheltering situation. Families want to protect their belongings,” Johnson said.
To help fulfill the needs of those remaining at camp, volunteers through Volunteer Prince William, churches, other religious institutions as well as private citizens took action to help deliver goods to those in need.
The county also spent approximately $6,000 to purchase 84 cold weather resistant sleeping bags and tarps which were distributed to homeless camps on the eastern end of the county.
Coles Supervisor Marti Nohe praised the efforts of volunteers.
“So many people were out in the cold, helping the homeless,” Nohe said. “[It was] a mobilization of citizens who realized there is a limit to what the government can do, but realized we don’t have to wait for the government to take action."
Supervisors were also curious if nonprofits were receiving enough funding after reading a local newspaper article highlighting the plight of the homeless in Prince William County.
“The federal government gave us everything we need,” Johnson said. “You have to produce those numbers when you get those grants.”
Candland asked if an interfaith council could be established to lead a more formalized effort to help Prince William’s homeless population as such a council exists in Fairfax County. He explained that while volunteers and religious organizations were mobilized in the eastern part of the county, many living in the western end did not even know Prince William had a homeless problem.
“We’ve got willing hands and willing hearts out on the western end,” Candland said.
County staff said it is something they could look into.
However, not all board members were happy with the letter that Stewart and Candland sent to the Governor, feeling they should have brought the issue in front of all board members.
Potomac Supervisor Maureen Caddigan (R) said she felt the matter should have been taken to the board, so all eight members could sign.
John Jenkins (D), Supervisor of the Neabsco District, agreed, saying that the letter represents him as a board member whether or not he was aware of it or agreed to sign it.
One supervisor mentioned that some supervisors had been asked to sign the letter while others had not been contacted about it.
As supervisors were reviewing the homeless situation, many of them also learned that that same evening a tent occupant on Minnieville Road in Woodbridge sustained second-degree burns from the use of a propane cooking stove, highlighting some of the other dangers of living outdoors without sufficient shelter.
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