Energy Assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that assists eligible households with their energy needs. In Virginia, the program is seasonal meaning it may assist you with heating bills in winter and cooling bills in summer. Your household must meet income and other eligibility requirements to participate. Contact information for the Assistance Program is on the Fairfax County website or visit the Fairfax County Public Assistance and Employment Services website directly. Call (703) 324-7500 TTY (703) 222-9452

Additional information is also available on The Virginia Department of Social Services Energy Assistance website.

Food Security

Food, Financial and Medical Assistance. Programs are offered by the Department of Family Service (DFS) Public Assistance and employment Services. You can apply online at CommonHelp.Virginia.gov. (855) 635-4370

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP can help you and your family with buying food using a special debit card called an EBT card. There is a local office at 1484 Washington Plaza West in Reston where you can apply or through the state’s Department of Social Services.

Meals on Wheels is a program that provides nutritious meals to people who are homebound. To find out more about this and other programs that might help, via our Long Term Services and Support section.

Herndon-Reston FISH provides low-income families who are food insecure with gift cards to shop at Giant or Safeway. The organization also helps with emergency assistance including help with rent, paying for prescriptions and other critical needs.

Assistance Services and Pantry Program (ASAPP) is operated by Reston’s Cornerstones nonprofit and is the largest food pantry program in Northern Virginia. Click here for a map of food resource locations. (571) 323-1400.

Cornerstones also annually sponsors a Hypothermia Assistance Program in the winter months. Details for Fairfax County’s Hypothermia Prevention Program are available here. Information for the 2025-2026 winter program is here. Questions related to Fairfax County’s Hypothermia Prevention Program, contact (703) 324-9492.

Housing

There is affordable housing in Reston. Options range from subsidized housing that often has long waiting lists to affordable apartments or town houses. For details, contact Fairfax County’s Office of Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

For those who own their own home and need help with making a repair or making their home more age friendly, apply to the Home Repair for the Elderly Program. There are income limits as well as other requirements needed to qualify. For more information, call (703) 246-5179 TTY 711 or email rha@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Similarly, the nonprofit Rebuilding Together will make critical repairs for those homeowners with low incomes living in our area who wish to age in place. For more information, call (703) 528-1999

Medicaid

You may be eligible for Medicaid, the state/federal insurance program for those with limited income and resources. In some cases, you may be dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid meaning most health care expenses would be paid in full. For more information, visit the Virginia Medicaid website and apply online at commonhelp.virginia.gov.

Benefits Help

The Fairfax County Department of Family Services for Older Adults can help you find available services and benefits programs. The program offers a Services for Older Adults hotline that can connect you with dozens of programs that can help you find dozens of available resources. Call (703) 324-7948 TTY 711 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Fairfax County offers a searchable online Human Services Resource Guide that lists nonprofit and government resources such as housing, food, financial assistance, and transportation in Reston and county wide. The guide includes detailed service descriptions, locations and contact information.

BenefitsCheckUp is a website sponsored by the National Council on Aging. You can use this free and confidential tool to find out what federal and local government benefits programs you may be eligible for. Application information is also included after you fill out a confidential questionnaire.

The Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington provides social services to low and moderate income individuals and families. Bilingual staff assist Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese clients in finding federal and state benefits programs such as Social Security, SSI, Medicare Part D Extra Help as well as rental assistance and finding affordable housing.

Transportation

Visit our Transportation section to find out what programs offer rides especially for those with limited income. Fairfax County, for example, has the TOPS program that allows you access to a number of transportation options. The TOPS program is only processing people on the waitlist, which closed effective Aug. 12, 2025.

Also in Fairfax County, the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) is another option for low-income individuals to use public transit. You must be a resident of Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax or the City of Falls Church, and meet one of the criteria detailed under eligibility on the TRIP website.