The CARITAS Center
an update and reflection by Jenni Pandak
CARITAS is Richmond’s largest emergency shelter, housing up to 110 people per night, and more than 1,000 people annually. They provide more than 90% of the shelter beds available to single women and nearly half of all shelter beds in the Richmond area. CARITAS works with 15,000 volunteers and 150+ host congregations and together we create a safe and hospitable place for our most vulnerable neighbors.
Upon entering CARITAS, guests find not only the necessities for survival — they find the tools for success. Through the growing web of CARITAS volunteers, staff, and agency partners, guests get the help they need to get off the street, back on their feet, and on the path to self-sufficiency.
Opening in 2019, The CARITAS Center will bring all the solutions for breaking the cycles of homelessness and substance use under one roof.
The new CARITAS Center will include the following elements:
an update and reflection by Jenni Pandak
CARITAS is Richmond’s largest emergency shelter, housing up to 110 people per night, and more than 1,000 people annually. They provide more than 90% of the shelter beds available to single women and nearly half of all shelter beds in the Richmond area. CARITAS works with 15,000 volunteers and 150+ host congregations and together we create a safe and hospitable place for our most vulnerable neighbors.
Upon entering CARITAS, guests find not only the necessities for survival — they find the tools for success. Through the growing web of CARITAS volunteers, staff, and agency partners, guests get the help they need to get off the street, back on their feet, and on the path to self-sufficiency.
Opening in 2019, The CARITAS Center will bring all the solutions for breaking the cycles of homelessness and substance use under one roof.
The new CARITAS Center will include the following elements:
- The Healing Place for Women – 160-bed peer-based recovery program.
- CARITAS Works – Expanded state-of-the-art classroom space.
- Furniture Bank – Warehouse space for Furniture Bank clients and volunteers.
- 47 Sober-Living Apartments – For program graduates and qualifying community members.
- CARITAS Administrative Offices – All located efficiently under one roof.
- Leased Office Space – For community partners
Christ Church has been a CARITAS partner, serving as a host church for
more than 20 years. We have served by sheltering 45 guests for up to 3
weeks a year. As they transitioned to the new CARITAS Center, we were
invited to serve on the CARITAS Planning Committee. Over the past 18
months, we met along with other CARITAS host church members, to develop a
plan for congregations to remain involved.
On July 11 seven of us -- four parishioners and three clergy from Christ Church -- went down to 2220 Stockton Street, Richmond to tour the new CARITAS Center with Karen Stanley and Tiffany Terry. The demolition phase is complete, and they are beginning to build out the new facility, expected to open in early 2019. The space is incredible, and we got very excited as we envisioned our CARITAS friends in the new facility. A verse that kept popping into my head during the tour was Isaiah 43:19, “I am about to do a new thing…”
This is a big change for all of us. It will require creativity and the willingness to step out of our comfort zone to meet our CARITAS neighbors where they are. While this transition will facilitate their move to stability, our CARITAS friends still absolutely need our help, our kindness and mostly our love to navigate the hurdles life has placed in their path. And we all need each other to grow in our relationship with Jesus and for the opportunity to see Him in the eyes of a stranger.
On July 11 seven of us -- four parishioners and three clergy from Christ Church -- went down to 2220 Stockton Street, Richmond to tour the new CARITAS Center with Karen Stanley and Tiffany Terry. The demolition phase is complete, and they are beginning to build out the new facility, expected to open in early 2019. The space is incredible, and we got very excited as we envisioned our CARITAS friends in the new facility. A verse that kept popping into my head during the tour was Isaiah 43:19, “I am about to do a new thing…”
This is a big change for all of us. It will require creativity and the willingness to step out of our comfort zone to meet our CARITAS neighbors where they are. While this transition will facilitate their move to stability, our CARITAS friends still absolutely need our help, our kindness and mostly our love to navigate the hurdles life has placed in their path. And we all need each other to grow in our relationship with Jesus and for the opportunity to see Him in the eyes of a stranger.
- Jenni Pandak serves on the Missions & Outreach Leadership Network. If you'd like to learn more about CARITAS and get involved in our mission efforts, please join the Missions & Outreach Interest Group in Realm or contact the Rev. Richard Pelkey.
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