October/November 2025 COMMON GROUND IS HERE!!!!! PLEASE SHARE!

NEIGHBORHOOD and COMMUNITY SERVICES

Interfaith Coordination

Common Ground

A Newsletter for the Interfaith Community

October/November 2025

Help for Residents Affected by Federal Workforce Restructuring

Fairfax County has a dedicated page for resources so please share this with anyone you know who is being impacted: Federal Workforce Resource HUB

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Faith Communities in Action (FCIA) Updates:

Thank you to all who joined and participated in the 4th Annual FCIA Interfaith Resiliency Conference on September 18th!

If you attended the conference, please make sure to complete the feedback form!

FCIA EVENT SAVE THE DATE!!

Tuesday, November 18th, 2025

7:00pm-8:30pm

Join us to learn about hypothermia shelters and the different ways your House of Worship can support them!

Online event - please Register to receive meeting link.

Please send any requests for language interpretation services to Lyndzey Elliott @ lyndzey.elliott@fairfaxcounty.gov by 11/04/25.

Equity

Equity Focus for October/November

Fairfax County Youth Survey Data Explorer

Fairfax County’s Youth Survey Data Explorer is an interactive tool that allows users to examine data on the health, well-being, and experiences of our county’s 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students. This resource offers valuable insights into the factors that influence our young people’s lives—helping faith communities, educators, and local leaders better understand the needs and strengths within their neighborhoods.

Houses of worship can use this tool to explore key data points related to equity such as:

Mental health and stress levels across different demographics
Substance use and risk behaviors by gender, grade, or region
Bullying, discrimination, and sense of belonging among youth
Community and family support indicators
Perceptions of safety and connectedness to school

By exploring this data, you can identify local trends, inform youth programming, and strengthen your outreach to support the holistic well-being of Fairfax County’s youth.

Explore the data here: Fairfax County Youth Survey Data Explorer

Safety and Security

Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)

FY 2025 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is one of three grant programs that constitute Department of Homeland Security DHS/FEMA’s focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofits, to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks.

The objective of the FY 2025 NSGP is to provide funding for physical security enhancements and other security-related activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack. The NSGP also seeks to integrate the preparedness activities of nonprofit organizations with broader state and local preparedness efforts.

Applications due by Friday, October 31, 2025. Learn more here.

Strengthening Communities Grant

The Northern Virginia Health Foundation seeks to support entities that are community-based and/or resident-led and work to reduce health disparities. Applicants must work to improve the health of these individuals and communities, whether through improving access to or the direct provision of care (primary, oral, or behavioral health), policy and advocacy, food security, or community building. Grantees must be 501(c)(3) organizations, working to improve health or the conditions that impact health. The Foundation is particularly interested in efforts that incorporate community voice, advance equity, and are based in communities identified as islands of disadvantage, as described in the report “Getting Ahead: The Uneven Opportunity Landscape in Northern Virginia”. Grants may range from $5,000 - $20,000.

The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, October 17th by 5pm. Please direct any questions you have about this request for proposals to Rachel Ermann Lynch at 703-486-5693 or rlynch@novahealthfdn.org.

Fire Prevention Week

October 5-11 is Fire Prevention Week, with an emphasis this year on the safe use of lithium batteries. Watch this video from our Department of Emergency Management and Security to learn about Fire Prevention Week!

Community Resources

Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority Accepting Affordable Housing Waitlist Applications

Starting TODAY Monday, October 6, the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will accept applications for new project-based voucher (PBV) units. The application window runs through October 12. Applications are submitted online through the Fairfax County Housing & Community Development website. Applicants will be chosen by lottery and screened for eligibility when units become available. Assistance is also available by phone or in person. This limited opening provides another pathway to stable, affordable rental housing in Fairfax County. While demand is high, these opportunities are critical to helping families who are struggling with housing costs.

For more information, visit: Affordable Rental Housing Waitlist Applications to Open in Fairfax County

Community Forum on Housing

Fairfax Area Disability Services Board is hosting a virtual community forum on Housing on Monday, October 20^th from 7:00 - 8:30pm. They are seeking community input to identify systemic gaps in service and/or barriers Fairfax County, City of Falls Church, and City of Fairfax residents with disabilities face with housing.

Learn more about community forums here. Learn more about Fairfax Area Disability Services Board here.

Nominations for Disability Inclusion and Equality Awards Due by October 17

Do you know an individual, self-advocate, or organization that excels in providing equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities in the Fairfax area? If so, nominate them for the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board’s 2025 Martha Glennan Disability Inclusion and Equality Award. Award winners are honored for demonstrating a commitment to promoting equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities.

There are three possible award categories: Individual, Group and Self-advocate. The nominee should demonstrate a commitment to promoting equal rights and community inclusion for people with disabilities in Fairfax County, and the Cities of Fairfax, or Falls Church; and demonstrate how people with disabilities have significantly benefited from their efforts. Learn more about the award.

Nominations are due BEFORE 5 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025. If you have questions, please email DisabilityRights@FairfaxCounty.Gov.

Fairfax Offers Grants for EV Charging Stations and Energy Upgrades to Faith Communities and Nonprofits

Places of worship and other nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply for Charge Up Fairfax and the Energy Conservation Assistance Program to power up their energy projects. Applications for both are now being accepted on a rolling basis.

Through technical guidance and financial assistance, Charge Up Fairfax can help groups take a first step toward installing electric vehicle charging stations on their property to support staff and visitors. The program offers reimbursement grants starting at $8,000 for charging stations, along with an option to stack incentives offered by Dominion Energy’s Level 2 charging program.

The Energy Conservation Assistance Program provides grants and expert guidance to help organizations implement energy-saving upgrades, clean energy projects, and climate resiliency improvements. More than $1 million has been invested in community energy efficiency upgrades through the program with the county contributing 20% of those costs. Projects must be approved for reimbursement prior to being completed or purchased.

Learn more about these programs and eligibility requirements, and apply at Charge Up Fairfax or Energy Conservation Assistance Program.

Consolidated Community Funding Pool FY2027-2028 Funding Application

The Consolidated Community Funding Pool FY2027-2028 Funding Application Package #2000004219 was released on September 26, 2025, and proposals are due December 8, 2025. Details are available in Fairfax County’s Bonfire/Euna Procurement portal, FY2027-2028 Consolidated Community Funding Pool - Funding Application Package.

A pre-proposal conference will be held virtually (MS Teams) on October 16, 2025, at 1:30 PM to review the RFP and answer questions. Please register for the conference through this link: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Fairfax County Student Bus Program

Did you know that you can now sign-up for a Free Student Bus Pass SmarTrip card at all Fairfax County High Schools and Middle Schools and ride the Fairfax Connector and City of Fairfax CUE bus for free? For more information visit your school’s administration office; you will need to have your parent’s/guardian’s approval for signing up.

Learn More: Fairfax County Student Bus Pass Program

Fairfax Food Council Seeks Teen/Young Adult Representatives

The Fairfax Food Council is seeking high school and college students to serve as Youth Representatives on its Advisory Council. This volunteer role offers a chance to shape local food policy, support community projects, and represent the perspectives of youth from Fairfax County, Fairfax City, and Falls Church. Applications are open from September 15 to October 24, 2025. Apply here!

Donate “Bundles of Comfort” for Older Adults, Adults with Disabilities

Help spread comfort and joy this holiday season! Many older adults and adults with disabilities in our community are struggling to access basic necessities. Fairfax County’s Adult and Aging Division is hosting the “Bundles of Comfort” Holiday Care Package Drive. These care packages, filled with a new hat, scarf, mug, and hygiene items, will bring warmth and smiles to 350 individuals this season—but we can’t do it without YOU! Donations must arrive at the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging by Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. For details visit Holiday Care Package Drive | Family Services.

Fairfax County Immigration Resources

Please see the document of resources attached for immigrants in Fairfax County. The document includes legal assistance, educational support, and emergency planning.

Immigrants in Fairfax County | Topics

Open Hire Employment Opportunity

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Service

The Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Service is looking for new volunteers! Volunteers support our direct-service and crisis response programs, community engagement efforts, and more. They are especially in need of volunteers who are bilingual in English and Spanish. The first step to volunteering with DSVS is attending a virtual Volunteer Orientation session - here for their next Volunteer Orientation on October 28th, 6pm - 7:30pm.