C’ville Shelter

excerpted from a message sent to PACEM’s congregational contacts by Adriana Nicholson on 7/8/08:

Hello Friends!

So where is the summer going?? I don’t know about you, but I keep asking myself this very question. Last time I checked it was April and we were getting ready to celebrate all of you! Now, it is July and we are busy scheduling shelter for the upcoming PACEM winter season. Whew…time sure flies!

I have a lot to update you on. So, lets get started!

1. We have partnered with Region Ten to move two of our regular guests into their new Step Up program. One is in and another is in process. This is a big move for our friends. They will have housing with no strings attached. The gentleman who is already in says he feels like a new person. “It’s like God has given me a second chance at life. I hope I don’t blow it.” He is back to attending services at his congregation and has cut down on his drinking. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

2. Many of our guests have needed toiletries, clothing and new sleeping bags. The wet weather has not helped. Many have lost their tents and sleeping bags to water damage. If you have sleeping bags please bring them by the office. Thanks to our partnership with Hotels for the Homeless we have plenty of toiletry kits to give out. The Central VA Clothing Closet has always been our best source of clothing for our guests. Their assistance has continued this summer. If you have clothing donations please take them to their Bolling Ave. location.

3. A big THANK YOU goes out to Steve and Debbie McVey of Broadus Memorial Church. They are again running the Summer Water program at daily Soup Kitchens in PACEM’s name. This is both expensive and time consuming. If you would like to donate funds to this project you may do so through PACEM. Just note “summer water” in the memo line. They can always use extra people to pass out water. If you can help please contact Steve and Debbie at smcvey6220@aol.com. Please consider helping them. This is a great youth project!

4. Now for the BIG announcement: Drum roll please!!!!! THE MEN’S SHELTER SCHEDULE IS FULL!!! Yep, you heard right. Thanks to all of you the men’s shelter is fully scheduled. We will begin pairing up partners and hosts. If you would like to be a partner to a host congregation please contact me ASAP!

5. Now for the women’s news: PACEM has 6 weeks open for hosting women’s shelter. If you have been a women’s host and are not yet on the schedule we NEED you! Please review the attached schedule and send me your desired dates ASAP. They will go fast.

6. PACEM Health Fairs are moving to the next level…… Charlottesville Health Access. We had a large gathering in June and hope to move this project forward. Once it is operational, our guests and others in the community will have student and volunteer Navigators. These trained persons will to assist them as they ‘navigate’ our existing C’ville healthcare system.

In August you will be receiving details about our annual training event. This year it will be bigger and better than ever! Please plan to attend with your whole team!

So as I said…..The summer is flying by! Enjoy what is left and as always thank you for make “A Pillow for Every Head” a real possibility in Charlottesville.

Peace,
Adriana
Director of Volunteer and Community Resources
465-5093
pacemga@aol.com

“SRO 101″ — Introducing a Proven, Permanent Solution to Homelessness

On Tuesday, May 27, from 4:00-5:30pm, representatives from Virginia Supportive Housing will lead an insightful and interactive presentation for the Charlottesville community on Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing for the homeless — a proven, permanent solution to homelessness that’s taking hold in many cities across the country. The presentation will take place in the “CitySpace” meeting room at the Charlottesville Community Design Center on the Mall side of the Market Street Parking Garage.

Virginia Supportive Housing, a Richmond-based statewide nonprofit housing provider, recently agreed to work with the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless (TJACH) and the Charlottesville community to develop and manage an SRO facility in Charlottesville. The May 27 presentation will give members of the public, community agencies, local officials, potential funders and area media a chance to learn more about the SRO concept and to hear about Virginia Supportive Housing’s plans and timeline for opening an SRO in Charlottesville.

A Single Room Occupancy facility typically features several dozen efficiency apartments that are available at low cost to people who have been homeless, with on-site support services and security to help keep the SRO residents stable in their housing. In cities like Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke, Fairfax and (soon) Virginia Beach, SROs have been successful in moving local residents — many of whom are disabled and/or veterans — off the streets and out of shelters and into permanent supportive housing. For more info. about SROs in general and Virginia Supportive Housing in particular, visit www.virginiasupportivehousing.com.

Hope to see you there!

PACEM (People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry) is now hiring a part-time Development Coordinator to conduct donor outreach, develop fundraising campaigns, build and maintain our donor database, assist with grantwriting, and plan special events.  The PACEM Development Coordinator will help create and execute a fund development strategy that engages with individual, congregational, business, civic, governmental and philanthropic donors to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of our cold-weather shelter program for the homeless and our year-round homeless support initiatives. 

Seeking a hard-working self-starter who is unafraid to “make the ask” and has a heart for the mission of our organization.  Pay is $24,000/year for a 20-hour/week position (no benefits). 

To apply, send a cover letter and resume by Friday, June 6 to:  Dave Norris, Executive Director, PACEM, P.O. Box 14, Charlottesville, VA 22902;  or via e-mail at cvilledave@hotmail.com.  PACEM is an equal opportunity employer.  For more information about PACEM, please visit www.pacemshelter.org.

7/5/08 UPDATE:  This job opening is now closed — we’re very pleased to report that Marie Lynch (a PACEM volunteer with a professional background in fund development) has joined our staff as PACEM’s new Development Coordinator.  Welcome Marie!!

Here’s your chance to get a great workout for a great cause.

Next Sunday, May 18, is the 2nd Annual Charlottesville Mini Triathlon, starting at 8:00am at Crow Pool.  It’s a 150 yard swim, 5 mile road bike, and 1 mile run — “Perfect for families, first-timers, and anyone who is looking for a short challenge!”  Ages 10 and up welcome. 

As they did last year, the organizers have chosen PACEM as the beneficiary of all event proceeds.  Pre-registration is $25, same-day registration is $35.  For more info., go to www.cvilleminitri.com. 

Hope to see you there!

Friends of PACEM:

I hope you’re planning to join us on Friday, April 11, from 6-8 p.m. at the John Paul Jones Arena @ UVa for a lively end-of-season Recognition and Awards Event. This is shaping up to be a wonderful celebration, and I wanted to share some exciting updates about the evening’s activities.

In addition to tasty food, live music (courtesy the singing group Fire), a special tribute to the volunteers and staff who made our winter shelter season a success, and the debut of our annual PACEM “Golden Pillow” and “Hope and Hospitality” Awards for folks who’ve gone above and beyond to help the homeless:

*  Dr. Charles Marsh has agreed to join us with some inspiring keynote remarks. Dr. Marsh is the founder of the Project on Lived Theology at UVa, and author of The Beloved Community: How Faith Shapes Social Justice, from the Civil Rights Movement to Today.

*  I am pleased to announce that we are expecting another very special guest, Mr. Tom Shadyac. Tom, the director of Bruce Almighty, Evan Almighty, Patch Adams, Liar Liar, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and many other hit movies, will help to honor our award winners, and will give us an update on the First Street Church Project, the community resource center/homeless day haven that he is working to bring to downtown Charlottesville. Admission is free and there is plenty of free parking. 

You won’t want to miss this event — we hope to see you then.

Peace,
Dave Norris
Executive Director

p.s. Many thanks to the following business and individual sponsors who made a financial contribution to PACEM in conjunction with this event:

Allied Concrete
BP Oil
BB and T Bank
Better Living
Bob’s Wheel Alignment
Mac and Kay Canter
Bushman-Dreyfus
Daggett and Grigg Architects
Family Medicine of Albemarle
Les Fabriques
Martin-Horn
William and Lori Millick
Mitchell-Matthews and Associates
Mary Newton
Omni Hotel
Quality Information Partners, Inc.
Ryscor Corporation
Ramsey Family Trust
Region Ten Community Services Board
Gabe Silverman
Southern States
Summit Realty
David and Rebecca Sweet
Swift Air Delivery
Synthonix Corporation
Virginia National Bank

The PACEM staff is in need of the following:

1. Funds for: Staff and supplies and printing services
2. Plastic ponchos
3. Vouchers for transportation, which are available at the city office building downtown. (A booklet of 40 – 50 bus passes costs about $21.)
4. Hotel vouchers for homeless families
5. Backpacks (the type used in schools - adult size)
6. Sleeping bags and tents
7. Clean underwear and socks
8. Suitcases with rollers (Hard-sided suitcases with only a handle are not recommended)
9. Drug store gift cards or funds for filling prescriptions

10. Over the counter medicines: Tylenol®, Advil®, Goody’s Powders®, cough drops, Mucinex®, Robitussin® Cough and Cold (not Robitussin®-DM), antacid tablets, Pepto-Bismal® tablets, antibiotic ointment, Band-Aids® and ear plugs

With your permission, PACEM can work with you to publicly acknowledge your generosity.

Monetary contributions in any amount can be sent to: PACEM, P.O. Box 14, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, or you can make a secure on-line donation.

PACEM relies on donations to fund operating expenses, such as supplies and office space. In addition, even though PACEM depends on volunteers, there is a paid, trained staff on-site at the shelters at all times throughout the season, as well as a full-time staff that provides ongoing year-round support to the homeless.

Sponsorship Opportunities for PACEM:
If you don’t know what to give, you can choose to cover the cost of one of the items below:

1. Purchase of new cots — $1,500
2. Hotel vouchers for homeless families — $3,000
3. Emergency assistance funds for homeless guests (help with prescriptions, bus tickets, winter coats, etc.) — $1,000
4. Transportation of guests to and from shelter — $10,000
5. Shelter supplies — $4,000
6. Shelter monitor position (an employment opportunity for a former PACEM guest) — $2,940
7. 1 week of shelter (staff time) $1,800
8. 1 month of shelter (staff time) $7,500

PACEM is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and donations to PACEM are tax-deductible. Your monetary contribution in any amount can be sent to: PACEM, P.O. Box 14, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902, or you can make a secure on-line donation.

For more information on getting involved with PACEM, please contact Adriana Nicholson, our Guest Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator, at 434-465-5093 or pacemga@aol.com. 

Each host congregation is asked to consider providing two weeks of service to the homeless each winter.

During those weeks the congregation will be asked for the following:
1. A location where the beds can be set up all week long.

2. Congregation volunteers for those two weeks to:

a. Cook and serve meals at night or provide for this service through other means.

b. Prepare morning breakfast.

c. Provide two (2) persons to sleep in the shelter overnight with the professionally trained paid person(s)

d. Provide volunteers to talk with the folks in the evening, play cards, pray, watch TV with and befriend those participating in the shelter.

e. Pack lunches for those that sign up/request a bagged lunch. (This is to help those homeless who are employed and need to carry a lunch to work.)

3. Make a financial contribution for start-up money to purchase cots and sheets and to hire the professional night staff.

4. If your congregation’s facility is not available, consider renting a facility. (Private school, community center, etc.)

Contact Adriana Nicholson, our Guest Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator, at (434) 465-5093 or pacemga@aol.com if your congregation is interested in becoming a host organization.

If your congregation is unable to serve as a host site, you may consider making a financial donation or volunteering to partner with another participating congregation to provide jointly the services listed below for two weeks per winter.

Donate to PACEM (Giving Time):
Because PACEM is a locally supported interfaith collaboration that depends primarily on volunteers and the support of a kind and generous community, the following are ways in which community members and congregations can support PACEM, through donations of time:

1. Provide transportation for guests and/or supplies
2. Volunteer to staff the intake center
3. Be a sponsor of guest setups: cot, pillow and blanket
4. Provide food for meals to host churches
5. Provide general office assistance
6. Be a prayer partner
7. Provide a meal prep team member
8. Provide an overnight volunteer staff person

To get involved in these activities, or for more information on getting involved with PACEM, please contact Adriana Nicholson, our Guest Advocate/Volunteer Coordinator, at (434) 465-5093 or pacemga@aol.com.

On Saturday, November 10, 2007, the doors of PACEM opened for another season of shelter and support for our homeless neighbors. This year’s shelter season is scheduled to run through Friday, March 14, 2008.

While we hope for the day when no one needs our services, we plan for the reality that hundreds of Charlottesville residents will find themselves homeless at some point this winter.

Through the combined efforts of 46 local congregations and dozens of community organizations and businesses, PACEM was able to provide 6,622 nights of shelter or lodging and more than 15,000 meals to 237 different homeless individuals during the winter of 2006-07.

Your support allows us offer “A Pillow for Every Head” to everyone who makes their way to our doors. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to help us sustain this vital ministry!