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Fairfax shelter becomes a lifeline for homeless female veterans

Final Salute, a new shelter in Fairfax County, provides a home for the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population.

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U.S. Army veteran Sandra Strickland embraces her daughter, Heaven, 8, after dinner. After losing her job and custody of her children and being evicted from her apartment, Strickland moved into a home for homeless female veterans provided by Final Salute.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Jas Boothe, founder of Final Salute, leaves the group home after a visit. She found this six-bedroom house in an upscale neighborhood to lease. It serves as transitional housing for female veterans and their children.

Jas Boothe, founder of Final Salute, leaves the group home after a visit. She found this six-bedroom house in an upscale neighborhood to lease. It serves as transitional housing for female veterans and their children.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Jas Boothe, an Army National Guard captain and Final Salute founder, talks about losing everything in Hurricane Katrina, being diagnosed with cancer and becoming homeless. Boothe ultimately got back on her feet with a new husband, baby and career as a human resources officer for the National Guard. Once she was reestablished, the first thing she wanted to do was to give back.

Jas Boothe, an Army National Guard captain and Final Salute founder, talks about losing everything in Hurricane Katrina, being diagnosed with cancer and becoming homeless. Boothe ultimately got back on her feet with a new husband, baby and career as a human resources officer for the National Guard. Once she was reestablished, the first thing she wanted to do was to give back.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Navy veteran Veronica Witherspoon, 30, Army veteran Sandra Strickland and a National Guard chemical specialist chat in the kitchen they share in Fairfax. With nowhere to live, the women found refuge with Final Salute, which provides homeless female veterans safe and suitable housing.

Navy veteran Veronica Witherspoon, 30, Army veteran Sandra Strickland and a National Guard chemical specialist chat in the kitchen they share in Fairfax. With nowhere to live, the women found refuge with Final Salute, which provides homeless female veterans safe and suitable housing.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Resident assistant TomiAna Trimm, center, fixes dinner in the kitchen surrounded by female veterans who found themselves homeless but are now living together in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Resident assistant TomiAna Trimm, center, fixes dinner in the kitchen surrounded by female veterans who found themselves homeless but are now living together in a quiet residential neighborhood.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

As Sandra Strickland makes spaghetti, her son, R.J., 6, plays with Legos in the kitchen. Strickland, 43, said she ended up at the house in November after she split with her husband, lost her job and was facing eviction. She had served six years in the Army during Operation Desert Storm, although she did not deploy.

As Sandra Strickland makes spaghetti, her son, R.J., 6, plays with Legos in the kitchen. Strickland, 43, said she ended up at the house in November after she split with her husband, lost her job and was facing eviction. She had served six years in the Army during Operation Desert Storm, although she did not deploy.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Sandra Strickland cleans spaghetti off her son, R.J., 6, with daughter, Heaven, 8, close by.

Sandra Strickland cleans spaghetti off her son, R.J., 6, with daughter, Heaven, 8, close by.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

The military women, along with the resident assistant, hold a meeting. Residents, if they are working, contribute 20 percent of their income toward the rent.

The military women, along with the resident assistant, hold a meeting. Residents, if they are working, contribute 20 percent of their income toward the rent.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Veronica Witherspoon, 30, left, makes Caroline Smith, 41, laugh during a meeting at the group house they share.

Veronica Witherspoon, 30, left, makes Caroline Smith, 41, laugh during a meeting at the group house they share.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Sandra Strickland and her son, R.J., 6, hop down the stairs to their basement bedroom. “It’s been a saving grace,” she said of the veterans’ housing. “I don’t even have words. ... It was just like a big burden had been lifted.”

Sandra Strickland and her son, R.J., 6, hop down the stairs to their basement bedroom. “It’s been a saving grace,” she said of the veterans’ housing. “I don’t even have words. ... It was just like a big burden had been lifted.”

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Sandra Strickland laughs as she looks over R.J.'s school work.

Sandra Strickland laughs as she looks over R.J.'s school work.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Eight-year-old Heaven performs a new song she learned in school for her mother. They share a basement bedroom in a house with three other female veterans and a resident assistant.

Eight-year-old Heaven performs a new song she learned in school for her mother. They share a basement bedroom in a house with three other female veterans and a resident assistant.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Sandra Strickland, R.J., 6, and Heaven, 8, laugh as she reads them “A Dark, Dark Place” before bedtime. R.J. picked out the book and Sandra gave a dramatic reading that had them giggling as she delivered the scary parts.

Sandra Strickland, R.J., 6, and Heaven, 8, laugh as she reads them “A Dark, Dark Place” before bedtime. R.J. picked out the book and Sandra gave a dramatic reading that had them giggling as she delivered the scary parts.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

Sandra Strickland, 43, washes dishes at 10:30 at night as she chats with Veronica Witherspoon, 30, about having to do K.P. (kitchen patrol) while in the military.

Sandra Strickland, 43, washes dishes at 10:30 at night as she chats with Veronica Witherspoon, 30, about having to do K.P. (kitchen patrol) while in the military.

Katherine Frey / The Washington Post

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