Winter is coming. And helping people get out of the cold is a core part of People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry’s mission—it played a large part in the group’s founding in 2004. “The faith community and emergency responders … were seeing individuals sleeping on church doorsteps in the middle of winter,” says PACEM Operations Manager Liz Yohn. “There’s a high risk for hypothermia, just as a basic physical challenge of sleeping outside on those nights. But there’s also larger problems related to being in the crisis of homelessness. An individual who is homeless, at 50 years old, is the geriatric equivalent of a 70-year-old who is housed.”
PACEM was recently in the headlines when it opened its doors early to help house those staying in Market Street Park (it is Charlottesville’s only low-barrier shelter, and operates each cold season). This year, PACEM shelters opened on October 21, and will remain available until April 12.
“[Demand] is similar to what we’ve seen in past seasons. … We’re seeing regularly in the realm of 35 to 45 men per night and about 12 to 15 women,” says Yohn. “I think it’s a little too early to say if [this] season we’re gonna see more demand. … But certainly it reflects the trends that we always see, which is when it gets wet outside and when it gets cold … demand is significantly higher.”
While the current need for shelter exceeds PACEM’s capacity, the organization has been able to exceed its cap of 35 men’s beds through a partnership with the Salvation Army. Shelter at the Salvation Army (charlottesville.salvationarmypotomac.org) is available year-round, but there are requirements for entry and a waiting list to access the shelter.
Additional services provided by the Salvation Army include a soup kitchen—which serves public breakfast and supper at 207 Ridge St.—and various expense assistance programs, including Christmas and bill payment assistance programs. Both PACEM and the Salvation Army also work to support shelter residents through case management, helping them transition into stable housing.
Finding and accessing housing resources can be confusing, with so many different organizations operating in Charlottesville. The Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (blueridgehomeless.org) serves as a continuum of care agency, aiming to connect those in need and supporters with resources and organizations. As part of its mission to “make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring,” BRACH recommends that those at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness contact the Homeless Information Line at 207-2328, or visit The Haven in person.
The Haven, at 112 W Market St., is not only a day-time shelter for the unhoused—it has a multitude of resources to support those facing housing insecurity. The shelter is open 365 days a year, and offers breakfast, showers, laundry, computers, phones, a store, mail, and housing assistance programs. More information about how to support and contact The Haven can be found on the organization’s website, thehaven.org.
“Homelessness is not for the weak, it is a very challenging experience to go through,” says Yohn. “The only way that they will get out is if they have someone there to help them meet their basic needs and provide a safe and welcoming space for them to do the work that it takes to get out of that.”
Charlottesville currently does not have a year-round, low-barrier shelter. As part of his response to tents popping up in Market Street Park this fall, City Manager Sam Sanders formed an internal work group to address the city’s homelessness and housing crisis. One of the group’s major tasks is to determine barriers that exist to opening a year-round, low-barrier shelter in Charlottesville.
“There’s an abundance of resources and compassion in our community, and there are a lot of folks doing work that is complementary to ours,” says Yohn. “Please consider supporting the local food pantries and resource centers. … You can help wherever you are, and every little bit adds up. So don’t be shy from participating.”