PACEM

Homelessness is a problem that our community can embrace!

232 homeless individuals live in the Charlottesville area*

Last winter (2008-09) PACEM’s shelter of last resort…

• Served 208 of our own neighbors.
• Provided shelter to an average of 47.5 adults per night.
• Provided more than 15,000 donated meals to homeless guests.
• Was open 140 nights, from November 7-March 27.

Over five years, PACEM’s rotating congregation based shelter system…

• Grew from 8 to 25 host-sites, with more than 55 additional congregations and community partners offering donated meals, and volunteer support.
• Engaged up to 150 volunteers per week, who offered donated meals and the warmth of human companionship to guests of PACEM.

PACEM has helped by providing 293 nights of lodging through its Families with Children Emergency Lodging Program.

PACEM has provided 27,185 total nights of shelter over the last five years!

Homelessness is complex.
(Based on PACEM’s 2008-2009 census.)

60% of our guests had a high school diploma
or higher level of education.
17 % of our guests were employed when they arrived.
43% of guests were of African-American, and 53% were Caucasian.
11% were U.S. military veterans.

PACEM’s Guests arrive from many places.

Street – 27%
Living with Family/Friends – 25%
Emergency Shelter – 12%
Jail – 11%
Mental Health or Substance Abuse Facility – 6%
Hospital – 4%

Highest Level of Education:
High School Diploma – 29%
G.E.D or Vo-Tech. – 13%
Assoc. Degree/Some College – 11%

Advocacy through PACEM’s Shelters:

Barriers are lowered.
23 guests obtained personal identification.
35 guests received supportive health services
from Region Ten, UVa, or CHA.
37 guests were referred for benefits.

Housing is located.

42 guests moved to housing.

Employment is found.

35 guests found leads for employment.

*Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless
(TJACH) Jan. 2009 Point In Time Census.