With record-breaking heat continuing throughout the area, “cooling centers” in the City of Falls Church provide residents and visitors some relief from the sweltering temperatures.
Three buildings are currently operating as cooling centers in the City: the Community Center (223 Little Falls St.), Mary Riley Styles Library (120 N. Virginia Ave.) and the Winter Hill Apartments Community Center (330 S. Virginia Ave. #B). The F.C. community center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.; the library is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Wednesday 1 – 9 p.m. and from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday; the Winter Hill community center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
In addition, the City issued details of two programs aimed at keeping residents cool during the summer. The Cooling Assistance Program with Fairfax County is a federally funded program that helps eligible low-income households with at least one person considered especially vulnerable to heat: a child under age six, a disabled individual or an adult age 60 or older. Cooling assistance can be used to help with:
• Payment of electric bills to operate cooling equipment.
• Payment of security deposits for electricity to operate cooling equipment.–Repair of a central air conditioning system or heat pump.
• Purchase of a whole-house fan, including ceiling or attic fans.–Purchase and installation of one window unit air conditioner for households where there is no unit or where the unit must be replaced.
Application for the Cooling Assistance Program will be accepted through August 15. More information is available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/ss/cooling_assistance.htm.
The Fan Care program, sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power, is an electric fan distribution program for older Fairfax-area residents. Annually, it provides about 200 free fans and/or window air conditioners to eligible senior adults in the Fairfax area.
To qualify for Fan Care, a person must be at least 60 years old, need a fan to prevent heat-related health problems and meet income eligibility requirements. Not everyone in the home needs to be an older adult to qualify for a fan, but all incomes must be counted. There is a limit of one fan per household.
The Fan Care program begins runs through the end of September. To request an application, call the Fairfax County’s Department of Family Services – Fairfax Area Agency on Aging at 703-324-7694, TTY 703-449-1186.
