Hypothermia Prevention Program Fills Up Nightly as Winter Temperatures Drop | Community Spirit

Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s Bailey's Crossroads Community Shelter opened its Hypothermia Prevention Program earlier this month and as temperatures around the area continue to drop, the center gets more and more packed nightly. The program is in place to serve the growing number of homeless people in Fairfax during the coldest months of the year and to provide needy individuals with shelter and warm meals.

The Hypothermia Prevention Program, in its 5th year of operation, began on December 1 and will continue until March 1. The Bailey's Crossroads Community Shelter in Falls Church has been open since 1985 and was recently awarded Program of the Year by Volunteers of America Chesapeake. Last year this particular shelter served 7,000 meals during the Hypothermia Program months and gave 450 unique individuals a warm place to sleep and a roof over their head.

“We have space for everyone coming in the door,” said Thomas Nichols, the Program Director at the Bailey's Crossroads Community Shelter.

While the Bailey’s shelter alone cannot hold everyone, local churches have donated their space in order to uphold the hypothermia program non turn-away policy during the frigid winter months. A total of seven churches and faith-communities in the area rotate so that two are giving up their space each night and Volunteer’s of America Chesapeake provides all of the transportation to and from the shelter.

“If I’m uncomfortable outside, we open the doors,” added Nichols, who is from South Florida, so the shelter doors stay open pretty frequently.

The Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter has 50 beds total throughout the year; 36 beds in the male dorm side and 14 beds on the female dorm side. A nurse comes in one night a week and shelter residents have laundry machines, shower facilities, and meals provided daily. Checkout a photo gallery of the shelter space here.

“I believe that discharge starts with intake,” said Nichols.

The staff has 90 days to work with the clients once they check in and the individuals are immediately connected with a case manager who checks up on them weekly. Mental health services and medical services are also provided upfront when needed. While the warm shelter and meal are paramount to what the Volunteers of America Chesapeake's facilities provide, the “wrap-around” services are what Nichols and his team is most proud of, and what the organization truly believes in. Their goal is to work with clients to build up self-sufficiency and there are about five to six discharges a week.

The program operates through funding from Fairfax County and relies heavily on donations from the community. If you would like to help you can forward donations to:

Volunteers of America Chesapeake

7901 Annapolis Road

Lanham, MD 20706

C/O Bailey's Hypothermia Program