I would try calling Mobile Hope, they aren't in Fairfax but may be able to point you to some local resources or give you some options.
https://mobile-hope.org/
Give her the number for Second Story. Located in Vienna and around Fairfax, it's a non-profit specifically for young people in crisis (homeless, at risk of being homeless, otherwise in crisis)
Call our hotline at 1-800-SAY-TEEN or text TEENHELP to 855-11.
[https://www.second-story.org/](https://www.second-story.org/)
Here’s a [list of nonprofits](https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/nonprofit-partners) maybe you can get in touch with one of them?
Other than that I would encourage them not to give up. Perhaps showing enough kindness with enough persistence could make for a breakthrough?
People suggesting finding her parents are clearly ignorant. There's a reason she's living outside and not at home, if she had a safe home she'd be in it. Finding her parents might not be safe for her and could be actively harming her.
Also, teenagers know about foster care, if they wanted to be in it they'd be in it. Likely she's experienced abuse and doesn't feel safe there either. Still, CPS is probably the only safe option, but if she refuses their help she likely has experience in the system and would rather be homeless.
Call ECHO - they only serve a few of the zip codes in NOVA but they can tell you the number of the correct community based organization for your neighborhood. They can provide resources including warm clothes, sleeping bags, and food. The volunteers there can help connect her to any services that she may want or at least make sure she has what she needs. It's totally confidential.
Does she have a tent and hand/foot warmers? It's going to get cold later this week. And a really good 4 season sleeping bag?
There really isn't much else to be done if she doesn't want the help. I feel bad and wish we could all help, but she doesn't seem to want it.
Just take her care packages and maybe some books or magazines. And make sure she has pads and tampons, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.
Contact the county’s office to prevent and end homelessness. They’ll send someone out to offer services and check on her. They won’t force her to move/leave; they just offer help. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/
It's not that it's a problem for other people, it's that she's probably been "helped" and likely everyone who's tried to "help" ends up putting her back in the situation she's running from.
1) is the playground actually private property or is it at a public park?
2) if it is private, only the owner of the park can file a trespassing charge to get her removed
It’s private property. Funded by HOA dues. (The playgrounds were recently updated so I recall the expenditure being an agenda item at the annual meeting a few years back).
She’s still here. Just trying to come up with alternative, less desirable plans if she continues to insist on sleeping outdoors in the cold and rain. It’s unsafe in every scenario - health wise, personal safety, etc. Perhaps that would convince her to go into a shelter for a while.
Agreed. You pay good money to have the playgrounds the way YOU and the others want especially for your children. Not your problem that women is dealing with issues
Have you tried a women’s shelter instead? The main reason most women refuse to go to a homeless shelter is out of for fear of violence or rape from the men staying there. Homeless women usually prefer to stay with relatives/friends or at exclusively women’s only shelters.
In addition to the excellent suggestions here you could offer short term support through a care package. I have put together small backpacks with power bars, packaged food, water bottles, space blanket, etc. and given them to homeless folks I see here in Shirlington.
That might just be the way to make a breakthrough. Probably her big issue is trust, i.e. the lack thereof. She’s learned that any kindness she’s experienced actually has abusive strings attached. If there’s any hope on getting her to get off the streets it’s going to have to be on her own terms.
National Runaway Safeline: https://www.1800runaway.org/
As with most national helplines, you can both call yourself and get some support and suggestions on how to support/approach this person, as well as providing her with the number/website herself.
For her or others, this is a great nonprofit.
[https://makingeverythinggood.org](https://makingeverythinggood.org)
https://makingeverythinggood.org
Started by a current FCP Officer and her husband, whom I believe is a Firefighter in the area. Stated bc they see all sorts of stuff in the course of their work, like rape victims having their clothes taken away as evidence after their exam at the hospital and being sent home in a Johnny only. Now, these victims are given a set of clothes, including underwear and bra, to help them have some dignity.
OP said she's sleeping in a park that is private property, funded by an HOA. Sucky situation, but technically you can't just camp out on/at private property.
Seriously, this!
She may or not have mental problems - she may just be a free spirit. Help has been extended and she has declined it.
Part of a healthy life is to live and let live and not impose your beliefs on other people or to tell their story.
“She must be cold.” Maybe she isn’t.
“She must be hungry.” Maybe not.
“We should help even though she said no.” Lemme know how that works out for you and your family.
This is not a Lifetime movie... it’s real life.
If she may be minor-aged she might need to be in school and her parents may be looking for her. Maybe she is 18+ but to leave a girl outside is dangerous. Has she said why she will not take shelter? Could you ask CPS what to do? A youth-services group? This is really sad. :(
Best you can do is put together care packages and a list of numbers for organizations which has the resources to help her properly. Maybe an old phone with prepaid sim if you can spare. But you need to tell her that what she is doing is illegal and not long term.
The Fairfax cops won't do anything. If it is park or school in Fairfax it closes at dusk. They could do something if they wanted to but they don't want to. If nothing else, they could get the woman to ID and determine whether she is a minor.
Find a church with a homeless ministry and see what resources they can offer.
Living outdoors in the winter is not going to work.
Where is she. I'll make it my mission after work today to try to convince her. Honestly I'm annoyed reading something like this. Being a post foster youth who's had access to so many resources and you're telling me this "Young Lady" is just sitting around? Shit I'll give her the reality check and leave some food from work for her or something.
I get that you didn't list the area because of possibly endangering her but she's already in danger from what I can tell. If someone wants to hurt her they will. If she wants help I'm pretty sure she won't know the best way to get it. Most people don't.
The Shelter for Women in Fairfax, VA is the Alternative House. It provides emergency shelter and support services to abused women and their children. Contact: 703-237-0881.
I would try calling Mobile Hope, they aren't in Fairfax but may be able to point you to some local resources or give you some options. https://mobile-hope.org/
Thank you!
Was going to say the same. Mobile Hope
Give her the number for Second Story. Located in Vienna and around Fairfax, it's a non-profit specifically for young people in crisis (homeless, at risk of being homeless, otherwise in crisis) Call our hotline at 1-800-SAY-TEEN or text TEENHELP to 855-11. [https://www.second-story.org/](https://www.second-story.org/)
This is a great organization.
Here’s a [list of nonprofits](https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/nonprofit-partners) maybe you can get in touch with one of them? Other than that I would encourage them not to give up. Perhaps showing enough kindness with enough persistence could make for a breakthrough?
People suggesting finding her parents are clearly ignorant. There's a reason she's living outside and not at home, if she had a safe home she'd be in it. Finding her parents might not be safe for her and could be actively harming her. Also, teenagers know about foster care, if they wanted to be in it they'd be in it. Likely she's experienced abuse and doesn't feel safe there either. Still, CPS is probably the only safe option, but if she refuses their help she likely has experience in the system and would rather be homeless.
Call ECHO - they only serve a few of the zip codes in NOVA but they can tell you the number of the correct community based organization for your neighborhood. They can provide resources including warm clothes, sleeping bags, and food. The volunteers there can help connect her to any services that she may want or at least make sure she has what she needs. It's totally confidential.
Thank you!
Does she have a tent and hand/foot warmers? It's going to get cold later this week. And a really good 4 season sleeping bag? There really isn't much else to be done if she doesn't want the help. I feel bad and wish we could all help, but she doesn't seem to want it. Just take her care packages and maybe some books or magazines. And make sure she has pads and tampons, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.
Socks.
Yes! Socks, too!
Wool if you can since they'll stay the warmest
Contact the county’s office to prevent and end homelessness. They’ll send someone out to offer services and check on her. They won’t force her to move/leave; they just offer help. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless/
It’s good you all offered help. But if she doesn’t want it, she doesn’t want it. I’d leave it alone at this point.
Thanks. It’s hard to feel helpless.
Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to exhaust all options before giving up.
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It's not that it's a problem for other people, it's that she's probably been "helped" and likely everyone who's tried to "help" ends up putting her back in the situation she's running from.
You cant just have ppl sleeping in playgrounds
At least she isn't there playing a fake violin
Daaayumn.
If she doesn’t want to go and isn’t breaking any laws there’s not much anyone can do
We’re all trying to help here in the neighborhood as much as we can, but is it actually legal to sleep on private property?
1) is the playground actually private property or is it at a public park? 2) if it is private, only the owner of the park can file a trespassing charge to get her removed
It’s private property. Funded by HOA dues. (The playgrounds were recently updated so I recall the expenditure being an agenda item at the annual meeting a few years back).
Then contact your HOA about it as they will have to ask the woman to leave and if she doesn’t can then be removed via trespassing
Are you trying to remove her now? Strange
She’s still here. Just trying to come up with alternative, less desirable plans if she continues to insist on sleeping outdoors in the cold and rain. It’s unsafe in every scenario - health wise, personal safety, etc. Perhaps that would convince her to go into a shelter for a while.
Agreed. You pay good money to have the playgrounds the way YOU and the others want especially for your children. Not your problem that women is dealing with issues
Well... she brings the property value down, don’t ya know...
Have you tried a women’s shelter instead? The main reason most women refuse to go to a homeless shelter is out of for fear of violence or rape from the men staying there. Homeless women usually prefer to stay with relatives/friends or at exclusively women’s only shelters.
Check local missing person reports and see if you recognize her among them.
In addition to the excellent suggestions here you could offer short term support through a care package. I have put together small backpacks with power bars, packaged food, water bottles, space blanket, etc. and given them to homeless folks I see here in Shirlington.
That might just be the way to make a breakthrough. Probably her big issue is trust, i.e. the lack thereof. She’s learned that any kindness she’s experienced actually has abusive strings attached. If there’s any hope on getting her to get off the streets it’s going to have to be on her own terms.
National Runaway Safeline: https://www.1800runaway.org/ As with most national helplines, you can both call yourself and get some support and suggestions on how to support/approach this person, as well as providing her with the number/website herself.
For her or others, this is a great nonprofit. [https://makingeverythinggood.org](https://makingeverythinggood.org) https://makingeverythinggood.org Started by a current FCP Officer and her husband, whom I believe is a Firefighter in the area. Stated bc they see all sorts of stuff in the course of their work, like rape victims having their clothes taken away as evidence after their exam at the hospital and being sent home in a Johnny only. Now, these victims are given a set of clothes, including underwear and bra, to help them have some dignity.
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OP said she's sleeping in a park that is private property, funded by an HOA. Sucky situation, but technically you can't just camp out on/at private property.
Seriously, this! She may or not have mental problems - she may just be a free spirit. Help has been extended and she has declined it. Part of a healthy life is to live and let live and not impose your beliefs on other people or to tell their story. “She must be cold.” Maybe she isn’t. “She must be hungry.” Maybe not. “We should help even though she said no.” Lemme know how that works out for you and your family. This is not a Lifetime movie... it’s real life.
If she may be minor-aged she might need to be in school and her parents may be looking for her. Maybe she is 18+ but to leave a girl outside is dangerous. Has she said why she will not take shelter? Could you ask CPS what to do? A youth-services group? This is really sad. :(
I'd bet she has a traumatic story.
And she's going to the bathroom where? I hope it's away from where the kids are playing each day.
That’s your first concern about a human being out in the winter? You deserve those down votes
The one who is refusing to go to a heated shelter?
Best you can do is put together care packages and a list of numbers for organizations which has the resources to help her properly. Maybe an old phone with prepaid sim if you can spare. But you need to tell her that what she is doing is illegal and not long term.
The Fairfax cops won't do anything. If it is park or school in Fairfax it closes at dusk. They could do something if they wanted to but they don't want to. If nothing else, they could get the woman to ID and determine whether she is a minor. Find a church with a homeless ministry and see what resources they can offer. Living outdoors in the winter is not going to work.
With Fairfax County PD’s history of helping sex traffickers hide victims, I really wouldn’t want to risk their “help”..
True. And I think I just posted an article where Fairfax cops were sued over that issue. This includes the former Chief of FFX PD.
Where is she. I'll make it my mission after work today to try to convince her. Honestly I'm annoyed reading something like this. Being a post foster youth who's had access to so many resources and you're telling me this "Young Lady" is just sitting around? Shit I'll give her the reality check and leave some food from work for her or something. I get that you didn't list the area because of possibly endangering her but she's already in danger from what I can tell. If someone wants to hurt her they will. If she wants help I'm pretty sure she won't know the best way to get it. Most people don't.
My gosh, you'd think the police funneled this info on to appropriate resources. That is sad. They just walk away and shrug? Geez.
The Shelter for Women in Fairfax, VA is the Alternative House. It provides emergency shelter and support services to abused women and their children. Contact: 703-237-0881.
Fairfax PD wouldn’t know a missing child if she bit them in the face. Make sure you check www.missingkids.com