New Center to Help the Needy Now Open

New Center to Help the Needy Now Open

By WYDaily Staff Tuesday, March 08, 2011

The greater Williamsburg area now has a new centralized Community Resource Center to help people in need.

The center, which had its grand opening Monday, is located in the Historic Triangle Community Services Center on Waller Mill Road. Based on a partnership among local government and nonprofit agencies and members of the faith community, the center aims to help people who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless by connecting them with various community resources.

The idea grew out of the Historic Triangle Housing, Employment and Linkages Program (HELP), which was a similar partnership pilot program that aimed to help local homeless get all the various services they needed to get back on their feet.

The Community Resource Center is an expansion of the United Way’s Information and Referral program, and is staffed solely by volunteers. The trained staff will connect clients with services and also maintain a database to help streamline and coordinate efforts among the various agencies.

Currently, the new CRC is funded by contributions from Bruton Parish, Hickory Neck Episcopal, First Baptist, King of Glory Lutheran, St. John Baptist, St. Martin’s Episcopal, New Zion Baptist, Wellspring United Methodist, Williamsburg United Methodist, Williamsburg Baptist, Williamsburg Presbyterian churches, Williamsburg Human Services Department, the United Way and private donations.

The program is still in need of several volunteers to serve as receptionists and community resource assistants. Volunteers should call the United Way at 253-2264. Donations for the center should be sent to the United Way, and should be designated for the CRC fund.

Comments

0 #9 Guest 2011-03-10 12:57

Kingsmiller - why is the center an "eyesore" it's in the same building that houses United Way, Fish, Avalon's outreach center, oh, and I do believe James City County's Head Start Program is in the same building, a really nice building, set back, off the main road, next to Waller Mill Elementary school - what is the eyesore exactly? Not like it's a building sat out on Richmond Road that says "Homeless Stop Here for Free Room and Board" - there is no homeless shelter in Williamsburg, all these groups are trying to work together to help the homeless or those that could be homeless due to economic issues - not everyone is lucky enough to be self-sufficient and not have to worry about where their next meal or their next rent payment may come from. If these agencies did not exist, we would have a heck of a lot more people walking the street and sleeping under the bridges and in the woods - yes, they are there, go out and look sometime, if you want an eyesore, that's where it is!!! Picturesque Williamsburg hides the eyesores!

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0 #8 Guest 2011-03-10 12:53

Taxpayer - City of Williamsburg social services is completely different, they have been working with United Way and the churches and the other non-profits to help with the needs - Social Services doesn't get as much money now as they used to either, which is why money has to be raised by non-profits in the first place!

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+3 #7 Guest 2011-03-09 22:12

"Taxpayer" is the same person who completely misread the recent article on the Blayton building and the city rental inspection program and misconstrued them as one and the same. An honest mistake, I suppose...

... but seriously, why so hard-hearted? "Taxpayer" and "Kingsmiller" (I mean, seriously? "Kingsmiller"? classy...) seem to think that the poor and hungry should just be left to die in the streets. You think the center is an eye sore? Ever seen someone sick, dirty, and starving begging in public? (If you haven't, trust me, it isn't pleasant) Centers like this are just as much a quality of life issue for the people who don't have to use them as those who do.

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-6 #6 Guest 2011-03-09 13:51

We don't need such an eyesore in our community.

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-5 #5 Guest 2011-03-08 13:01

Dear wonder why who funds the williamsburg human services department? I guess since you don't know that means that you are the one who needs to be educated. Tax payers fund the human services department.

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+14 #4 Guest 2011-03-08 10:53

What a pleasure to see Williamsburg offering coordinated services to those who are in need! It is a sign of our growing more mature as a community. An adage says that as we become adults, we learn to open our hands. The infant and the child are necessarily grasping.The mature human being has an open hand to help others. May the new service flourish.

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+11 #3 Guest 2011-03-08 10:23

Taxpayer - what are you talking about? This article says nothing about tax dollars, this program is funded by the faith community and staffed by volunteers with, what appears, the guidance of United Way staff - where are tax dollars coming into this? They are not supporting the homeless from cradle to grave, they are trying to help those that do not WANT to be homeless - that a husband has lost his job and their income has gone from great to none and they don't know where to turn - this has nothing to do with government or taxes. If you haven't been paying attention, government wants to give LESS to social services! Yes, everyone NEEDS something, and United Way has help for those in need of social service help - if your child is born with a birth defect, they fund an agency that will be helping you - CDR, if your friend starts to beats his wife - rich or poor, Avalon will be there to comfort her. Just because you need something, does not mean you are poor, but on the possible verge of homelessness is scary - be thankful that there is help out there to guide those that want the guidance - and most of it without the help of the government!

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+11 #2 Guest 2011-03-08 09:24

Taxpayer, two thoughts. "Whatsoever you do to the least of these, so too you do unto me" - God (you know, the one who inspired the writers of the Declaration of Independence). And second, to paraphrase the Golden Rule, I pray that if you are ever homeless, that your neighbors will show you more mercy than you are willing to show them now.

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-27 #1 Guest 2011-03-08 08:01

I am glad to see all of the churches and private organizations trying to help people. I am not happy to see my tax dollars go to the so called NEEDY. Everybody needs something even the rich person needs someone to wash their mercedes, the college student needs a late night pizza. The problem here is that the gorvenment has become the caretaker for people who do not want to be a productive part of society. In the 90's some very wealthy group took a homeless lady off the streets of Baltimore and GAVE her a house and a job. Well guess what she sued the group and won a large sum of money. She is or was back living on the street rich and homeless. It is one thing to help a person but it is another to totally support them from the cradle to grave.

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