Homeless Family Center
respecting the inherent worth and dignity of every person
[Jump to: Family Center FAQ]
The Homeless Family Center, located on 4th Street just east
of Old Dixie, is a shelter that provides housing, food and assistance to those in need
in this and the surrounding three county area. The non-sectarian (clients and staff
are not allowed to discuss or proselytize their religion while at the shelter) center
has entrance requirements, such as zero drug and alcohol tolerance (random tests are
administered) and immediate job search activity. They also require their residents to
save 75% of their salary towards future housing. The residents meet all of these
requirements with the assistance of the center's staff, which provides professional
counseling and employment assistance. There is always a waiting list to get in. With
the center's recently constructed addition, the number of men, women and children who
will be able to temporarily reside at the center has doubled to hold sixty residents! But
with growth comes strain (don't we at UUFVB know that firsthand!). Resources are
always straining at the center, but the staff rises to the challenge of being able to
help more people and turning away fewer of those who are in need.
So how can we help? We do help every month, with our ministry of food, of
toiletries, of other items that people call and offer, asking if the center could use "this or that"
(call me, I'll find out if they need it!). I have never helped a more thankful organization than
the HAC. When I call our contact, David Cooper, Residential Manager, each month to arrange our "meal
delivery date", he is always thanking us and relating how much the residents appreciate our food
and other donations. I wish to take this time to thank all at UUFVB who have assisted with our
monthly meal and other donations for the center. And an extra big thanks to my teammate in
coordinating this project, Anne T.
The center often eats soup and sandwiches when things get tight, and our monthly
meal is heralded as a special night. With a hodgepodge of food items (some donated, some purchased,
and all neatly, yet tightly, stored in the 5 refrigerators and pantry area), the center's part time
cook -- who must be a miracle worker -- arranges and prepares three meals a day with whatever is in stock.
As the center continues to expand, with the recent renovation of their hurricane
damaged administrative building, so will the level of services that the center will be able to offer to
its clients. They will be offering additional "job and life skills" classes, such as parenting, writing
a resume, sticking to a budget, interviewing tips, and computers 101. Volunteers will teach these
classes, so look for HFC info (in the Social Justice binder on the sign up table), for yet additional
opportunities to help nurture and respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person!
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