Archive for the ‘PACEM Shelter’ Category

PACEM’s Intake Moves to The Haven

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Holy Comforter Volunteer, Roberta Crosby, at PACEM's Intake at The Haven.

PACEM’s Intake moved to The Haven at First and Market Streets. Moving Intake for PACEM’s shelters to The Haven is part of a long range plan to centralize homeless services, which can help move our neighbors beyond the crisis of homelessness.

For five years, Holy Comforter Catholic Church served as PACEM’s Intake site where seven nights per week, from November through March, homeless neighbors in need of PACEM’s ‘shelter of last resort‘ felt welcomed.  Holy Comforter and its congregational volunteers provided a dependable gathering space and nightly hospitality for men and women to sign in and be transported to PACEM’s rotating shelters.

We are grateful to Holy Comforter for its continued commitment to provide volunteers, just a few blocks down the road, at our new Intake location. And to The Haven for providing the space from which our homeless neighbors can access PACEM’s community-based, rotating shelters.

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PACEM’s Dave Norris Provides End-of-Season Recap on “Charlottesville–Right Now”

Friday, March 27th, 2009

On Thursday, March 26, PACEM Executive Director Dave Norris joined Coy Barefoot of WINA’s “Charlottesville–Right Now” radio show for a recap of PACEM’s fifth season of winter shelter, which ends today.  The Charlottesville Podcasting Network has the audio — see http://www.cvillepodcast.com/2009/03/26/charlottesville-right-now-dave-norris/

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PACEM’s Shelter Season Has Been Extended!

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

We are pleased to report that PACEM’s 2008-09 shelter season will be extended two weeks, through the night of March 27.  Many thanks to Debbie Pollock, a PACEM supporter who took it upon herself to raise money from friends, neighbors and co-workers to keep our doors open longer.  Debbie’s efforts paid off, generating thousands of dollars in donations that will allow us to cover operating expenses for both our men’s and women’s shelters for two additional weeks.  And, of course, many many thanks to all of those who gave financially this year so that we could keep our doors open all winter.

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PACEM Off to a Successful Start

Monday, November 10th, 2008
Last night marked the debut of PACEM’s fifth season of winter shelter, and our months of preparations paid off — the night went off without a hitch. We had 9 homeless guests last night and 15 tonight, and our census will continue to increase as the weather gets colder and as the word gets out that we’ve re-opened our doors. Both Channel 19 (click here) and Channel 29 (click here) ran excellent stories in conjunction with our re-opening.

Over 60 area congregations and thousands of area citizens assist with PACEM each winter, helping to ensure that no one has to sleep out on the streets of Charlottesville during the coming cold-weather months. We are hoping to stay open through at least the middle of March 2009, though that’s entirely dependent on how much money we can raise from now until then to cover our shelter operating costs; more funds mean we can stay open longer. (If you’d like to contribute to that effort, please click here. All donations are fully tax-deductible and greatly appreciated!)

Below are a few photos I took at our men’s shelter last night. Even after four years it continues to be a remarkably humbling experience whenever I walk in the doors of PACEM, seeing row upon row of cots and knowing that those cots are what passes for home for many in our community — including some folks who can fit everything they own in a single backpack.

We take so many things for granted, you and I. We forget that not everyone else can.

Here’s Jessie, Tonya, Gwen and Johnny (L-R), some of our returning shelter staff. We have the best people working for us at PACEM! — Dave Norris

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PACEM Now Hiring for 2008-09 Winter Shelter Season

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

Jobs with PACEM — Winter 2008-09

PACEM is once again looking to hire seasonal staff for our low-barrier
wintertime shelter program for the homeless. The following positions will be available from November 2008-March 2009:

* Intake Specialists, PACEM Men’s Shelter and PACEM Women’s Shelter – Responsible for leading new guests through the intake/assessment process, welcoming returning guests, screening all comers for eligibility, providing hotel vouchers for eligible families, helping guests get settled in for the evening at the host site, and generally troubleshooting whatever problems arise during the hours of 4:30pm to 8:30pm. Pay is $12/hour. Hiring for 1-5 shifts/week (4 hours per shift).

* Overnight Supervisors, PACEM Men’s Shelter and PACEM Women’s Shelter – Responsible for overseeing shelter operations during the overnight hours, ensuring the safety/security of host sites and guests during that time, performing intake/assessments on late arrivals, getting guests up and out the door in the morning, and generally troubleshooting whatever problems arise between the hours of 8:00pm and 7:00am.  Pay is $12/hour. Hiring for 1-3 shifts/week (11 hours per shift).

No prior experience with the homeless is necessary to work for PACEM, but it is preferred. Excellent people skills, patience and compassion will go a long way in these positions!

To apply, send a cover letter and resume by Oct. 15 to: Dave Norris, Executive Director, PACEM, P.O. Box 14, Charlottesville, VA 22902 or via e-mail at cvilledave@hotmail.com.

Questions? Call Dave Norris at 465-1391 or e-mail cvilledave@hotmail.com.

For more info. on PACEM, visit www.pacemshelter.org

“A Pillow for Every Head”

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PACEM Now Hiring Part-Time Development Coordinator (Update: HIRED!)

Sunday, May 18th, 2008

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!!

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Winter 2007 – 2008: PACEM Open for 4th Season of Shelter

Monday, November 12th, 2007

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!

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