Lamb Center Gets Another Chance in Court
Virginia's Supreme Court agreed to hear The Lamb Center's case against Fairfax City.
UPDATE: Do you want the Lamb Center to stay at Fairfax Circle? Vote here.
The Virginia Supreme Court will decide whether The Lamb Center breaks city rules in providing showers, preparing food and washing laundry for the homeless in Fairfax City.
The private nonprofit argued their case before the state court earlier this month after a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge ruled that the Lamb Center's services overreach its use permit.
"Certainly we are pleased that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case and will prepare for a positive outcome for The Lamb Center," said Frank McLeskey, chairman of the center's board of directors.
Though neither party has received a set date for the hearing, city attorney Brian Lubkeman expects the process to begin within the first months of 2012.
Last year, the center serviced over 100 homeless every day, providing them tens of thousands of meals, showers and laundry loads. Staff and volunteers, however, struggle to meet the growing needs of the poor and homeless in Fairfax.
"We are working very hard to find a new location for the center in the near future that will meet expanding needs to help the poor and homeless in central Fairfax," said McLeskey. "In that regard, we are also currently in positive and continuing discussions with both Fairfax City and County officials concerning relocation."
It's a search that's gone on for much of the last decade. In 2006, the center and the city looked at moving the Lamb Center to an office building in Merrifield. The plan fell through thanks to NIMBY push-back and an elusive county special use permit.
Click these links to read more about the Lamb Center.
eagertrader
11:32 am on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Lamb Center does not prepare any meals on site. Hot meals for lunch are prepared by hundreds of volunteers from churches of various denominations, including mormons, and a Jewish Community Center, who donate their time and food to prepare meals at their homes so these can be brought to the Lamb Center to feed the homeless. Aside from a place to eat, the guests have a base where they can get the type of support to get back on track.
In addition, the guests can have their laundry done for them, the use of the phones and an address where to receive their mail. There is also some counseling, health and job search help, AA meets, bible studies, even free haircuts, and most of all, love and empathy.
As you see these folks go out to the world, you would not think that they are homeless, as they are clean and appropriately dressed, shaven and groomed, trying to get back on their feet.
If the courts rule against the Lamb Center, what's the alternative? Folks lingering on the streets, dirty and sick, pan handling for food, unsightly and despaired?
Let's hope that the Judicial system has more common sense than the Fairfax City government which seems to cater to the greed of businesses whose primary interest is not the welfare of the community at large, but the perceived value of their real estate when a charity like the LC is in their midst.
james ware
4:37 pm on Thursday, December 1, 2011
All I CAN SAY iF IT WAS NOT FOR THE LAMB CENTER I WOULD NOT BE IN THE SHAPE THAT I AM KNOW, THEY BROUGHT ME BACK TO REALITY WHEN I HAD NO WERE TO TURN. I AM PROUD TO SAY I AM A PRUDUCTIVE CITIZEN BECAUSE OF THE LAMB CENTER. I JUST PRAY THAT THE HIGHER COURTS WILL SEE THE GREAT WORKS THAT COME FROM THIS AMAZING ORGANIZATION AND THE SEE HOW GOD'S PEOPLE ARE DOING SUCH GREAT DEEDS TO HELP THE ONES THAT NEED TO BE HELPED. THANK YOU GOD FOR LEADING ME TO THE LAMB CENTER WHEN I WAS IN DISPAIR......
BROTHER JAMES WARE