The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Union Mission opens shelter for women
Parker House is first of its kind in three-state region.
Every night in Chatham County, roughly 180 women go to sleep without a roof over their heads. Along the I-95 corridor, from Florida to South Carolina, there was no shelter dedicated to serving unaccompanied homeless women. Until Tuesday. Parker’s House opened recently as Union Mission’s latest project aimed at addressing emergency housing needs for people experiencing homelessness in Savannah and Chatham County. The program, which serves up to 32 women at a time, provides housing and wraparound services (things like case management, job training, therapy and medical help) for 90 days. Housed in the former J.C. Lewis Healthcare Clinic on Fahm Street, the project was named after Parker’s Kitchen Community Fund, which donated $250,000 to kick-start the shelter project.
Greg Parker, president and CEO of Parker’s Kitchen, said that once he learned of the needs to help homeless women in the community, the donation became a no-brainer.
“Our brand filter — the focus through which we look at everything — is the working mother, and it’s been that way for over 25 years,” Parker said. “So, we felt that there was a need, and when we were asked, we said it’s time to step up; let’s do something about it.”
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Parker issued a challenge to the community: he will match up to $100,000 in donations made to Parker’s House to ensure operating and program costs are covered.
“There’s a never-ending opportunity to give money away. And I’ve got to say, it seems to me that the businesses in Savannah do step up, and they do give back,” Parker said. “Every person that gives back in this community knows it, because our phones are constantly ringing. And there’s so many worthy causes, so we have the capacity to do a lot, and we’re going to continue to do a lot.”
Parker’s was one of 25 donors who gave more than $50,000 toward the project, which had a fundraising goal of $2.35 million, according to Union Mission CEO Michael Traynor. Top donors include the City of Savannah, restauranteur and celebrity chef Paula Deen’s Bag Lady Foundation, and the Sarah Mills Hodges Foundation.
“So, we have 25 donors that gave over $50,000, and we have a lot of other donors that came who gave less than that, but all of them are extremely important to what we do,” Traynor said. “And that allows us to do this renovation and also have money for operating costs as we move forward.”
Addressing need for services, housing
About 40% of women experiencing homelessness have been sexually assaulted, while 70% are survivors of domestic violence. Traynor said the sobering statistics emphasize a need for services that help protect and heal women, particularly in a region without shelter for single women.
“It’s very important that we have this safe, secure, relaxing environment for each of the individuals that come here,” he explained.
The shelter opened Sept. 6 with 32 women able to be housed. There are 16 rooms, which are connected with Jackand-Jill bathrooms. The women will be welcomed with a carrier of toiletries and sleepwear, courtesy of local brand Lake. The rest of the space includes a common area and kitchen, computer room, conference room, laundry room and an outdoor courtyard.
“When they come through this door, we want them to know that they are safe and to know that we are a bunch of caring people,” said LaMonica Graham, Union Mission program director for Parker’s House and Grace House, which is a men’s emergency shelter program. “Our motto here as case managers is we’re going to start with where the client is.”
Similar to Grace House, Graham said Parker’s House focuses on the basic needs of their residents to prepare them for permanent and safe housing. One of the biggest needs, Graham explained, will be getting people state-issued IDs or driver’s licenses so they can begin finding work, receiving medical care and applying for longterm housing.
“Employment is gonna be some of the battle, but we are working with Goodwill,” Graham said. “And then, we’ll be looking for affordable housing for them to be able to stay.”
Traynor, CEO of Union Mission, said the dearth of housing in Savannah and Chatham County — part of a larger housing crisis that’s driven prices up due to a lack of inventory and unprecedented demand — has made it a challenge to place program participants.
He added that he hopes Parker’s House serves as a model for other organizations along the Southeast Coast and that the need for affordable, safe housing once people get out of emergency shelters becomes a priority.
“I think that needs are going to evolve to permanent supportive Housing ... which we have a lot of difficulty because what’s happened with rents and things of that nature and properties even being available at the prices that we’re allowed to get reimbursed for.”
As Parker’s House opens its door to clients, it’s going to be about love and acceptance.
“We put our arms around our clients and we work with them on a daily basis to help them with their success. We try to understand what the issues are, and what we can do to help mediate them and make it better,” Traynor said. “And so, by being compassionate and caring and client focused, then we’re able to help move those individuals to the next level.”