Get Help

Cornerstones connects people to the vital resources that solve their needs for housing, childcare, food, and financial assistance.

Asking for help can be the hardest first step for an individual or family to take. Cornerstones and our partners are here to provide assistance when a crisis arises.

Get help today by clicking on the resources below:

Prevent child abuse and neglect
Social services in Northern Virginia
Assistance with heating and cooling bills
Support with paying rent
Preventing foreclosure
Facing homelessness or currently homeless
Food resources or other financial assistance
Health, physical, mental well-being or safety concerns
Affordable quality childcare and parenting classes
Legal assistance
Employment assistance
Becoming a first time home buyer

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Preventing Child Abuse or Neglect

Cornerstones works with many families to provide them vital resources to raise healthy and educated children. Our employees, board members, volunteers and program participants are governed by strict policies and procedures relating to the protection of children from real or perceived abuse, neglect or harassment. Staff and volunteers uphold all mandatory reporting laws and work in partnership to address issues of neglect with authorities and regulatory agencies.

If you are concerned about a child’s well-being — or if you would like advice, counseling, resources or help for yourself or others — call Fairfax County’s Child Protective Services at the CPS Hotline: 703-324-7400. You may give your name or remain anonymous, if you wish.

Related Resources:
Fairfax County Child Protective Services (CPS)
Healthy Families Fairfax
Virginia Department of Social Services
Administration for Children and Families
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
American Humane Association
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Child Welfare League of America
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Social Services in Northern Virginia

Fairfax County Human Services Coordinated Services Planning 703-222-0880
For emergency housing/shelters, and short-term, emergency help with basic needs.  This is the best place to start if you live in Northern Virginia and need assistance.  Most of Cornerstones’ clients come from referrals from Fairfax County Human Services Coordinated Services Planning.

2-1-1 Virginia
Cornerstones is a proud collaborator with 2-1-1 Virginia, a source of information about community and social services available in Fairfax County and statewide.  When you dial 2-1-1, a trained professional listens to your situation and suggests sources of help using one of the largest databases of health and human services in Virginia.

Virginia Department of Social Services 800-552-3431
Information about state-wide social service assistance for individuals, families, and children.

Assistance with Heating and Cooling Bills

EnergyShare is Dominion’s fuel assistance program of last resort for anyone who faces financial hardships from unemployment or family crisis.  The program provides assistance, through payments directly to vendors, for both the heating and cooling seasons.  For heating, the program helps pay for any type of home heating – wood, oil, natural or propane gas, kerosene, or electricity.  For cooling, the program only pays for Dominion Power bills and not gas.

Applications for assistance are now being accepted (or until funds run out), at our ESSP offices.  We are serving clients in the Herndon and Reston zip codes.

If approved, the program will pay for one payment (amount needed to keep or restore service) per season.  The program will also pay a Dominion deposit guarantee not to exceed $250, and this amount is not included in the maximum amount.  The program will NOT pay guarantee deposits alone (unaccompanied with a bill) nor initial deposits for new accounts.  Also, the program will NOT pay accounts being finalized (i.e., the client is closing the account and leaving the area, and services are not being transferred).

Eligibility:

• Applicant must have a disconnection notice or be in danger of losing their primary heating/cooling source.
• Applicants age 60 or older DO NOT have to have a disconnection notice to seek assistance.
• Applicants must have exhausted all other state and federal resources.
• Applicants must be income-eligible (80% or below median family income for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan statistical area)
• The head of household must be unemployed or experiencing a personal/family crisis.

Documentation required: proof of employment or unemployment, income, the heating/cooling bill/cut-off notice, and a photo ID.

Support with Paying Rent

Rent Assistance: Cornerstones’ Emergency & Self-Sufficiency Services Program  571-323-1400
For emergency food, financial assistance, or clothing referrals.
11484 Washington Plaza West, Suite 120
Reston, VA 20190

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Friday 8:30 AM-1:30 PM 
1st Saturday 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Preventing Foreclosure

Housing Counseling and Foreclosure Mitigation/Prevention 703-956-6722
For those in danger of losing their home to foreclosure.

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Stimulus Funds
If you can answer YES to any of these questions…

• Are you a resident of the Fairfax-Falls Church community or the Commonwealth of Virginia?
• Are you at risk of becoming homeless?
• Are you at risk of having your utilities turned off?
• Has your income been reduced recently?
• Does your yearly income fit within the following guidelines:

Family of 1: $35,950         Family of 2: $41,100
Family of 3: $46,200         Family of 4: $51,350
Family of 5: $55,450         Family of 6: $59,550
Family of 7: $63,650         Family of 8: $67,800

…you may be eligible for assistance. Call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880, TTY 711, between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. The Coordinated Services Planning Staff will determine the level of services you may be eligible for or refer you to a nonprofit partner organization.

Facing Homelessness or Currently Homeless

Embry Rucker Community Shelter 703-437-1975
For men, women, and families who are, or are at risk, of becoming homeless.

11975 Bowman Towne Drive
Reston, VA 20190
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round

Hypothermia Prevention Program 703-437-1975
For unsheltered adults between the months of December – March.

Fairfax County Women’s Shelter 703-435-4940
For men, women, and families who are being physically abused or battered.

Food Resources or Other Financial Assistance

Click here for a map to find food programs and requirements to be served (ex: if you need and ID, or if you need to schedule an appointment, etc.).

Cornerstones’ Emergency & Self-Sufficiency Services Program  571-323-1400
For emergency food, financial assistance, or clothing referrals.
11484 Washington Plaza West, Suite 120
Reston, VA 20190

Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Friday 8:30 AM-1:30 PM
1st Saturday 9:00 AM-1:00 PM

Concern for Another Person’s Health, Physical, Mental Well-Being or Safety

CrisisLink 800-273-TALK or 800-SUICIDE
Vital support for those facing life crisis, trauma and suicide.

Fairfax County Department of Health 703-481-4242
For concerns about public health or safety.

HealthWorks for Northern Virginia   703-443-2000
Free health services to patients with no insurance and a household income of 200% or less of the federal poverty level.

National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-RUN-AWAY 
For youth and families who need information on how you can help someone who has or who may be at risk of running from home.

Finding Affordable Quality Childcare and Parenting Classes

Fairfax County Department of Family Services 703-324-7500
Protecting and improving the lives of children, adults and families through advocacy, education and effective supportive services.

Fairfax Partnership for Youth / For Youth Information 703-324-5703
“One stop shop” resource for Reston area youth, parents and community members looking for affordable, accessible, supervised and healthy after-school/out-of-school activities.

Healthy Families Fairfax 703-787-4908
Home-based support and education for first-time, at-risk parents.

Laurel Learning Center 571-323-1414 
Child development center supporting low and moderate income working families.

Legal Assistance

Just Neighbors Immigration Legal Services 703-979-1240
Immigration legal services for low-income immigrants and refugees of all faiths and nationalities in Northern Virginia.

Legal Services of Northern Virginia 866-534-5243 
Free, high quality civil legal services for low-income, elderly, or disabled individuals.

Employment Assistance

Fairfax County SkillSource Group 703-752-1606 
For assistance with job search, employment training and education, resume and interview preparation, and unemployment information.

First Time Home Buyer

First time home buyer classes are available at through Cornerstones at Connections for Hope. Please contact our Housing Counselor at 703-956-6722.

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Para ayuda con comida, asistencia financiera, o ropa, por favor comunicarse con Minnie Orozco, 571-323-1410.

Para emergencias de habitación/albergue, alojamiento temporal y ayuda con necesidades basicas, por favor comunicarse al 703-222-0880.

Para asistencia con cuidado de niños y remisiones de Fairfax County, por favor comunicarse 703-324-8000 y presione 2.

Para todos aquellos en peligro de perder su casa, por favor comunicarse con Martin Rios, 571-323-1439.

Para preguntas sobre el empleo, por favor comunicarse con Rodolfo Nogales, 571-323-9581.

Para cualquier otra pregunta, por favor comunicarse con Bill Threlkeld, 571-323-9579.