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Since we are a people who take hope seriously and believe in the innate worth of every human being, it is our job to take people where they are and help get them where they want to go. The shelter will provide basic resources to homeless/transitional women and children of Yavapai County. Our facility will be an outreach program by connecting guests to current outside resources. 
In June of 2007, one of the community conversations centered on the need for an emergency drop-in homeless shelter for women and women with children. In September 2007, ten social service organizations formed a collaboration to make this conversation a reality. The Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ) became the fiscal agent, providing insurance, a non-profit status, and they hired a VISTA to implement the project. By November 2007, collaboration was formed between the agencies, and PAWS was created. The open house was deemed successful; the shelter budget, $15,000, was raised in less than two months. In its first season, PAWS was located at Hillside Church of God and opened from December 2007 through March 2008. In four months, PAWS provided services to 39 women and 7 children. Over 20 faith-based and civic organizations provided 238 meals while PAWS provided 539 bed nights. PAWS was staffed by 66 dedicated volunteers, seven days a week, who filled five positions each night. During their stay at the shelter, guests found places to stay/rent and applied and received jobs and government subsidies. During our last two nights of service, four new guests arrived; one a mother with two children. March being the second highest month for new guest arrivals, 12, and bed nights, 151, shows that emergency homeless services are not just a need during the winter months; it is a year round service that should be provided to the quad-city area homeless community. In April 2008, the PAWS assessment was presented to the ten supporting organizations, and Youth Count took over as fiscal agent while PAWS moved into the current facility on Rush St. Since July 2008, the PAWS Board of Directors has been meeting monthly to discuss and implement the future of PAWS as a year-round emergency shelter. PAWS is now a registered 501c3 organization. Since opening, PAWS has served 133 women, 12 children, and provided 2907 bed nights. Also, 55 women and 4 children from the shelter have found permanent housing. PAWS provides the following services year-round: *food (a hot meal at night, breakfast, and a bag lunch to go) *shelter (from 5pm-8am) *hygiene products and a shower *clothing (winter coats, sweat suits, socks, etc) *meetings with a Case Manager to provide: *information on local social service agencies *affordable housing options *signing up for government subsidies *computer classes *substance abuse program information *goal sheets to determine guest length of stay and progress towards self-sufficiency but most importantly feeling safe, nurtured and rested The shelter is staffed by Carmen Frederic, Shelter Director, AmeriCorps VISTA member Erika Stone, Program/Outreach Coordinator, and AmeriCorps member Susan Spector, Volunteer Coordinator. 
Yavapai County is the size of New Jersey and of the 35 total communities within its boundaries, only 8 are incorporated. The remaining 27 non-incorporated communities have limited or no public infrastructure. Each of these incorporated and unincorporated communities have specific and varied needs. PAWS project takes a wide view of the county's issues regarding homeless communities and will assist where possible. In four months PAWS served 46 individuals from all over Yavapai County and other areas including: Chino Valley, Prescott Valley, Prescott, Paulden, Cortes Junction, Winslow, Page, Buckeye, Kingman and also from Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Tucson and Flagstaff. The location of PAWS in Prescott, AZ offers the homeless community in Yavapai County a central location to find emergency homeless services. |
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