Home & Safety
Safety Programs
Evacuation Assistance: Arlington Fire Department’s “I” Program alerts fire units about the location of persons with disabilities or those who cannot evacuate on their own. This program is for residential properties only.
Home Safety Checks: The Arlington County Fire Department offers free home safety checks to residents of Arlington and the City of Falls Church. Call your local fire station (TTY 703-228-4610) to schedule a check. The home safety check includes an assessment of your: home evacuation plan, frequency of furnace and fireplace cleaning, safe storage of flammable materials, smoke alarm placement, space heaters, and extension cord use.
Smoke Alarm Program: Operation Firesafe provides free smoke alarms to Arlington families in need. Please note, if you rent an apartment or house in Arlington, the owner or management company is responsible for installing and repairing smoke alarms. This program is offered by the Arlington Fire Department.
Personal Emergency Response Systems
Personal Emergency Response System: Virginia Hospital Center is a 20+ year provider of the Philips Lifeline Medical Alert System for the Northern Virginia and Northwest DC Metro Region. The VHC Senior Health group locally manages the equipment by helping you set it up and maintain the system for as long as you need it. This wearable technology is waterproof and works in tandem with a compact speaker that is placed in your home.
SafetyNet Tracking: Persons in the program wear a personal locator unit on their wrist, which is equipped with a tracking signal. This allows police departments to locate them, typically within a 30-minute timeframe. If you’d like to sign up a loved one or for more information on the program, visit SafetyNet Tracking – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government (arlingtonva.us).
Home Maintenance
Rebuilding Together: Rebuilding Together completes home repair and improvement projects each year, free of charge to qualified homeowners.
Trash Pick-Up (Backdoor): Backdoor pickups can be arranged for residents who are unable to take their trash and/or recyclables to the curb. Apply for backdoor collection or call 703-228-5000. Certain restrictions apply.
Library Resources
Library Books By Mail: A service for Arlington residents who are homebound – delivery and return postage are paid for by the Library. There is also an option for audio books to be delivered.
Library Accommodations: Library accommodations include screen readers, magnifiers, large print books, and more.
Pet Care
Emergency Pet Care: If you are an Arlington County or Falls Church City resident and you are experiencing a health or housing crisis (i.e. unexpected hospitalization, house fire), the Animal Welfare League of Arlington can shelter your pet on a short-term basis, giving you time to make other arrangements.