CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) — Two Charlottesville nonprofits are working together to “functionally end homelessness of seniors” in the Charlottesville and Albemarle County area.
The Alliance for Interfaith Ministries and PACEM announced on Monday a specific fund for moving seniors, ages 55 and older, into permanent housing that will be established at AIM.
There will also be a revolving fund that will be used specifically for security deposits for the seniors.
The program is called the Secure Seniors Program, and when a client’s lease period ends, the security deposits will be returned to AIM by the landlords to be reused for another qualified client.
Kimberley Fontaine, the director of AIM, initiated the meeting with PACE to find ways to work together for better outcomes for the people they serve.
“When great nonprofits work together, we have such potential to make radical change,” she said. “We are very excited to have PACEM join us on this effort. Restricted donations to AIM for the Secure Seniors Program will move seniors out of homelessness and into safe and secure housing. When we lift our neighbors up, our entire community benefits.”
“By partnering on this project, we will significantly reduce the number of seniors, roughly 60 individuals last season, who currently like on the streets of Charlottesville,” said Jayson Whitehead, the executive director of PACEM.
The organizations are actively seeking donations to create the funds to help the dozens of older people who live on the street.
SOURCE: CBS19 NEWS