Artist’s rendition of the new Lamb Center in Fairfax. Photo Courtesy of Kelly Johnson
Since 1992, The Lamb Center in Fairfax has served as a place of refuge for the poor and homeless. It’s a daytime, drop-in shelter providing hot meals, showers, laundry services, and recovery and employment counseling.
Now, though, it’s in need of a home of its own so it may better serve its clientele in a larger facility in a more-appropriate location. And on Nov. 18, the Fairfax City Council put out the welcome mat, clearing the way for the facility to move from a rented site on Old Lee Highway to a new building on Campbell Drive.
“We’re thrilled; this is the answer to our prayers and a dream come true for The Lamb Center,” said Kelly Johnson, vice-chairman of the organization’s Board of Directors, afterward. “We’ve looked for a new home for many years, and now we can follow through on it – so tonight’s approval was a huge milestone for us.”
The new site is in an industrial area on more than one-third of an acre where two lots will be consolidated. Planned is a two-story building, possibly done in phases, depending on funding. There’ll be a parking area and bike rack, plus landscaping improvements.
Inside will be a great room where meals are served, offices and classrooms. And there will be a loitering-prevention plan and video monitoring. It’ll be open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; and Saturday, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., with four full-time staff members and four volunteers there at all times.
At the Nov. 18 public hearing, Lamb Center Board Chairman Mary Petersen said the entity initially began as a ministry of Truro Church, serving some 20 people. Eventually, though, it became supported financially and with volunteers from about 100 churches, more than 1,000 individuals and dozens of local businesses.
“We’ve worked hard to become good neighbors and have more professional staff members that can better serve our guests,” said Petersen. “The new site is farther away from retail establishments, yet close to transportation. The current building’s too small and inefficient; we could have classrooms and meeting rooms in a larger one. And we’re excited by the opportunity to build a new home to our own specifications.”
“We want to make this work with the community,” said attorney Sarah Hall, representing the applicant. “We’ve already begun reaching out to the neighbors. The multifamily use to the north is separated by a substantial buffer and a fence. This will be an attractive building and the facility will operate safely; it’s a Fairfax City institution to be proud of.”