Beacon Landing to Offer 54 Rental Apartments to Individuals Exiting Chronic Homelessness

Wesley Housing, The Lamb Center, Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority

(FCRHA), Fairfax County, and City of Fairfax officials, and other development project partners gathered on November 3rd to break ground on Beacon Landing in Fairfax, VA. The innovative rental apartment community will provide 54 new Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units with wraparound supportive services to people experiencing or at-risk of chronic homelessness.

Beacon Landing is the result of a thoughtful partnership between Wesley Housing and The Lamb Center, leveraging both organizations’ complementary missions, expertise, and long histories of community service to deliver Northern Virginia’s largest permanent supportive housing community. Located in the northeast portion of Fairfax City, on the same street as The Lamb Center’s existing daytime drop-in shelter for people experiencing homelessness, the community will replace the former Hy-Way Motel site (9640 Fairfax Blvd, Fairfax, VA), which was demolished in 2024.

Once complete, Beacon Landing will offer primarily studio-style apartments tailored for single individuals with very low incomes. The Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) awarded 48 project-based vouchers for the development. The community will feature 42 studio, 10 one-bedroom, and 2 two-bedroom apartments. The building is designed as 100% universal design and nine units will meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Type A requirements to address resident accessibility needs. The new apartment building will feature an innovative, trauma-informed, energy-efficient design and will meet National Green Building Standards (NGBS) and Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) requirements.

“This is not just a building; it’s a bold response to a growing need,” said Wesley Housing President and CEO Kamilah McAfee. “Beacon Landing shows what’s possible when communities like Fairfax County and City of Fairfax come together cross-jurisdictionally to invest substantial resources in housing solutions that are compassionate, coordinated, and lasting.”

The five-story, mixed-use development will include structured parking, a community space, an outdoor terrace, and office space on the ground floor, enabling an expansion of The Lamb Center’s job readiness programs to help individuals find and sustain employment. Residents will also benefit from case management and wrap-around services to support their health, stability, and independence, ranging from income and benefit navigation to life skills training and mental health support.

“Nine years ago, grounded in faith, The Lamb Center asked a simple question: ‘What is the greatest unmet need of our homeless neighbors?’ That question brought us to this moment. Beacon Landing shows what’s possible when boundaries fade and communities unite around a shared conviction — that housing is not a privilege, but a fundamental human right,” said The Lamb Center Executive Director Tara Ruszkowski.

“At the FCRHA, we are committed to removing barriers and creating access for everyone in their quest to find opportunities. Beacon Landing does just that, by providing people experiencing homelessness with homes and supportive services to help them thrive,” said Lenore Stanton, Chair, FCRHA.

“Beacon Landing is another example of our commitment to finding innovative solutions for complex problems. The partnership that has come together through non-profit, private, and public entities exemplifies what can happen when we all work toward a common good. This site, with its access to transportation, jobs and resources, here in the heart of the City of Fairfax, will no doubt change the lives of many,” said Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

“The Lamb Center has been embraced and supported by our city residents for over 30 years,” said City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine S. Read. “Building permanent supportive housing right where they are is an achievement of vision, commitment, and faith. This type of housing is key to a healthy and thriving community and we look forward to supporting the residents of Beacon Landing in our city.”

The $33.1M development uses a complex, layered capital stack including 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity invested by Capital One Bank through Hudson Housing; a Capital One construction loan and Freddie Mac first mortgage; subordinate loans from the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA) and Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Affordable and Special Needs Housing (ASNH) program; grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Virginia Housing, the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), and congressionally directed spending championed by the late Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), and a deferred developer fee.

Construction is underway, and the community is expected to welcome its first residents in late 2026. The new community leasing will be handled through the Fairfax County Coordinated Entry System as well as the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). To learn more about Beacon Landing, please visit WesleyHousing.org or BeaconLandingVA.com.