Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH)
The Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH) is a county agency focused on homeless prevention and housing services, represented in HHCAB meetings by Tom Barnett (Deputy Director). 2 separate matters touch this plan or program; each has its own status.
Beacon Landing
Beacon Landing is a 54-unit supportive affordable housing development co-developed by Wesley Housing and the Lamb Center, located within the city. The project drew on 23 separate financing sources and received a $700,000 gap financing investment from the city's Housing Trust Fund in February 2023 — a fund built from cash-in-lieu payments made by developers prior to the adoption of the city's Affordable Dwelling Unit ordinance in 2020.
- Fairfax County Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (OPEH)
Tom Barnett presented on homeless services in 2026, including the Point-in-Time Count results, new and upcoming shelter facilities, system changes, federal CoC program uncertainty, and strategic planning phases.
The City of Fairfax 2035 Comprehensive Plan is the city's primary long-range land use and policy document, guiding development, housing, transportation, and related decisions. A five-year review process culminated on October 8, 2024, when City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-24-30 approving the updated plan dated September 27, 2024.
- Orientation
Tom Barnett presented on OPEH topics including the hotel conversion near Fair Oaks, a proposed PSH project, coordinated response to potential federal funding reductions, service access timelines, and drop-in centers throughout Fairfax County.
In full
OPEH has been a recurring subject of orientation and update presentations before the Human and Health Care Advisory Board (HHCAB). In March 2025, Barnett presented on a hotel conversion near Fair Oaks, a proposed Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) project, coordinated responses to potential federal funding reductions, service access timelines, and drop-in centers throughout Fairfax County. By June 2026, Barnett returned to present on the 2026 Point-in-Time Count results, new and upcoming shelter facilities, recent system changes, the federal Continuum of Care (CoC) program and associated funding uncertainty, and strategic planning phases.
No votes have been taken on OPEH-related items at either recorded meeting; both sessions were informational in nature.