Fairfax Homeless Services See Increased Demand During Cold Weather

FACETS provides essential services to the unhoused population, especially vital during winter storms.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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As Northern Virginia braces for a winter storm, organizations like FACETS that serve the area's homeless population are preparing for a surge in demand for their services. FACETS, which has been operating for 40 years, provides hot meals, emergency provisions, stabilization support, and community networking to those experiencing homelessness, particularly during periods of extreme cold weather.

Why it matters

With the potential for heavy snow and frigid temperatures, access to warm shelter, hot meals, and other essential services becomes critical for the region's homeless population. FACETS' efforts to support this vulnerable community highlight the importance of community-based organizations in addressing homelessness, especially during severe weather events.

The details

FACETS serves hot meals 365 days a year, with distribution sites across Fairfax County, including a van in the Home Depot parking lot in Fairfax City. The organization also operates a hypothermia shelter program from December 1 to April 1, providing a warm place to sleep and a hot meal nightly. During the recent cold snap, the number of individuals seeking shelter at FACETS' Bailey's Shelter & Supportive Services literally doubled, as people sought refuge from the extreme cold.

  • The hypothermia shelter program runs from December 1 to April 1.
  • During the January winter storms that dumped snow and ice across much of Virginia, FACETS continued to provide hot meals to anyone who showed up at one of the organization's many drop off sites.

The players

FACETS

A 40-year-old organization that provides essential services to residents experiencing homelessness, particularly during periods of cold weather.

Paul Grist

The Director of Development at FACETS.

Bailey's Shelter & Supportive Services

An emergency shelter managed by FACETS that saw a significant increase in demand during the recent cold snap.

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What they’re saying

“If you look at the people that turn up for hot meals, everybody's got a story. There are guys who have been federal workers, who still have jobs but are so lowly paid, or they're on furlough, that they were turning up for food assistance. There are people that live in their cars that are trying to make a life. There are people that live in camps in the woods. Everyone has a story, and it's a no questions asked service.”

— Paul Grist, Director of Development, FACETS (patch.com)

“Providing the hot meals is there, but on top of that, and probably more importantly, we run a hypothermia shelter program across Fairfax with about 50 different churches.”

— Paul Grist, Director of Development, FACETS (patch.com)

What’s next

The hypothermia shelter program will continue to operate through April 1, providing a warm place to sleep and hot meals to those in need during the remaining winter months.

The takeaway

FACETS' efforts to support the homeless population in Fairfax County, especially during severe weather events, highlight the vital role that community-based organizations play in addressing the complex issue of homelessness and ensuring access to essential services for the most vulnerable members of the community.