Summertime is easy…or so we’ve heard. But for Haven guests, the summer was all about ACTION! Amazing things happened for our guests this summer. Their determination and resilience made us humble and proud. We celebrate all those who took a step to change their lives. We are glad to share this community with you.
17 Guests found jobs:
- E.C. got a job as a flagman and is paid up current with his child support.
- T.J. got a job at Lacey.
- T.S. got a job at Waffle House.
- A. got a job at Expresso.
- R.A. got a job at a call center.
- S.S. got a job as a full-time assistant chef at Maya.
- G.W. got a job with a painting company & is in a supportive housing program.
- J.C. got a job as a substitute teacher and a place to stay at Oxford House.
- B.R., T.H. & M.P. got a jobs at John Paul Jones arena.
- C.R. got a job with food services at UVA.
- R.E. is doing some contracting work.
- E.M. got a full-time job as a cook in a daycare – using her Haven culinary arts certificate!
- W.L. got a job as a welder.
- W.G. got FT job.
- G.G. got a job at Dunkin Donuts.
10 Guests engaged in substance abuse treatment:
- W.L. graduated from residential substance abuse treatment.
- T.S., R.B., R.A., M.S., P.G., C.S., E.G., & C.P. went into substance abuse treatment.
- K. H. moved out of a place where people were using drugs and into a safe place.
10 Guests found housing:
- K.B., S.D., T.S., C.K., S.S., D.B., R.T., W.A., W.L. found housing.
- P.G. got into a supportive housing program.
4 Guests got into school:
- J.T. passed the GED with flying colors & had an interview at Pizza Hut for an assistant manager job yesterday.
- B.B. enrolled in Piedmont Virginia Community College & tested out of English class.
- P.A. got his ID and enrolled in school.
- K.H. graduated from truck-driving school.
23 Guests took steps to improve their lives:
- L.K. returned home to Michigan to reunite with her family.
- A.J. finally got his school transcripts, which he needs to get his ID.
- 8 people showed up for the first re-entry peer-to-peer support group in the sanctuary.
- H.K. & D.K. got much-needed dental work thanks to the Charlottesville Free Clinic.
- A.S., R.W., J.T., N.B. & H.H. got paired with a volunteer job coach from the Blue Ridge Mountain Rotary club.
- S.L. got a call from his daughter for the first time in 6 years.
- Two guests got eyeglasses and exams thanks to Lenscrafters.
- B.A. got approved for disability.
- M.H. & W.B. enrolled in the new Ready, Set, Cook culinary arts program.
This is exciting stuff, to be sure!
Our Sanctuary hosted several community events in the last quarter including Ash Lawn Opera Recitals, a series of classes held by City Market on canning, Portico Church Ice Cream Socials, As You Like It AA Home Group meetings, NA meetings, two Re-entry Support Groups, Peabody School Graduation, a community choir, yoga classes, a women’s support group, 2 art-making workshops, and the Charlottesville Community Drumming Choir, among others.
Haven staff are busy helping guests get qualified for the The Crossings SRO operated by Virginia Supportive Housing and prepare for the PACEM emergency shelter season. We are considering some changes in programming for this fall to include a low-barrier morning, open to all, based on behavior, and a more structured afternoon open to all who agree to a period of change in their lives, service at The Haven through cooking and cleaning, and engagement in readiness programming including MACAA’s financial literacy trainings, job coaching, resume development, conflict resolution classes and goal-setting workshops. These services have always been offered but we hope that this structured approach will improve engagement. We are still working out the details now but will share the final structure as it develops. We are pleased that this change was initiated by Haven guests, volunteers and community members!
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