What We Do
The Lamb Center is a daytime drop-in shelter for poor and individuals experiencing homelessness in Fairfax, Virginia. We provide a variety of services without cost to our guests, including breakfast, lunch, showers, laundry service, Bible studies, housing and job counseling, AA meetings, a nurse practitioner clinic, a dental clinic, and much more. We partner with local groups and organizations who have a passion for serving the homeless.
"Come inherit the kingdom prepared for you … For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I needed clothes and you clothed me. … When you did if for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you were doing it for me." Matthew 25:34-35, 40
Feed
Meals
Breakfast is served from 8-10:30am and a hot lunch from 12:00-1:30pm. Our guests value having choices and we strive to offer as many choices during mealtime as possible based on the foods that are donated to us. Coffee and cold beverages are available throughout the day. Over 45,000 mealsare served at the Lamb Center each year.
Clothe
Clothing Closet
The clothing closet is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays and one Saturday each month. Guests experiencing homelessness can visit the clothing closet once a month to “shop” for up to ten items of clothing. When a guest has an emergency need for clothing, a staff member can take the guest to the clothing closet to fill that need.
Laundry
Our guests have the opportunity to have one load of laundry done each day. Over 10,000 loads of laundry are washed for our guests each year.
Showers
Our guests have the opportunity to take a daily shower at the Lamb Center. Being able to be clean and wear clean clothing is important to the dignity of our guests. We provide towels, soap, shampoo and various other personal hygiene items for guests. Over 14,000 showers are taken annually.
Lockers
Our guests experiencing homelessness have the opportunity to sign up for a locker at the Lamb Center. Lockers are renewed on a monthly basis as needed. For many of our guests, lockers serve as a place to store their clothing and other personal items so that they do not have to cart these possessions with them everywhere they go during the day or night.
Employ
We help guests prepare for, train and seek employment skills and jobs so they can be self-sustaining.
City Jobs
The Lamb Center is partnering with both the City of Fairfax and Fairfax County to provide approximately 20 guests with paid jobs maintaining city parks and public spaces in 4 hour shifts every Monday through Thursday. Both the city, the county, and our guests have benefitted from this transitional work program. For some workers, City Jobs serves as a stepping stone to full-time private sector employment; for all involved, it offers the dignity and sense of purpose that comes with earning a paycheck.
Jobs for Life
Jobs for Life is a 10-week curriculum, with mentoring, that is based on Christian values and promotes job-seeking and job-maintaining skills.
Jobs Club
Jobs Club meets twice a month and is a resource for those seeking to find and maintain employment.
Empower
Case Management
Case management is our core program and encompasses spiritual, psychological, life and employment dimensions.
Overcome Obstacles
We help guests determine issues that are obstacles to living a life of wholeness.
ID Card and Document Delivery
We provide assistance to replace or obtain identification, social security cards, and birth certificates.
Social Security Assistance
Case Managers are available to assist our guests in filing for disability and social security.
Veteran's Benefits Assistance
Case Managers are available to assist our guests in filing for veteran’s benefits.
Deal with Addictions
We desire people to come to grips with addictions and mental issues and seek treatment.
Transportation Assistance
Help is provided for transportation to interviews and medical appointments when funds are available.
Encourage
Bible Studies
We offer Bible Studies twice every day at 10:30am and 1:30pm to help guests seek God’s plan for their lives.
Chapel Services
On Thursday mornings at 10:30am we have a chapel service with music, prayer, and a message from ministers visiting from a variety of denominations. Our chapel services provide our guests, who may otherwise feel uncomfortable attending a local church service, to have the opportunity to participate in a once a week worship service.
The Chapel of the Good Shepherd
All guests, volunteers, and staff members are welcome to use the chapel for prayer, study or meditation. The chapel is a quiet place where you can speak or pray with a guest.
Get Help
Medical and Mental Health Specialists
We have a nurse practitioner and a psychiatric nurse practitioner available at various times to meet with our guests.
Dental Clinic
The Lamb Center has a dental clinic at our facility. Once a week during the fall and spring semesters, a team of students, accompanied by a dentist and professor, from the Northern Virginia Community College Dental Hygiene Program, come to the Lamb Center to provide hygiene services for our guests. Various dentists come to the Lamb Center once a month to provide pro bono restorative dental services.
Optical Referrals
Appointments for eye exams and glasses (when available) are provided to our guests free of charge.
Legal Assistance
Pro bono lawyers come in to provide legal assistance to our guests.
Tax Preparation Assistance
Volunteers are available to help our guests file their taxes free of charge.
Mail and Message Service
Several of our phone lines are dedicated to our guests, and we provide a mailing address for over 400 people.
Phone and Computer Assistance
Phones are available for the use of our guests, and a computer is available for job and housing searches.
Haircuts
Volunteers come to the Lamb Center approximately once a week to provide haircuts for our guests.
AA Meetings
There is a daily AA meeting at 12:30 in our Chapel.