CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY
Homelessness and poverty in the Rochester area continues to be a large and growing problem. Compounding the challenges faced by homeless families is the shortage of safe affordable housing in Rochester.
- 38% of Rochester’s children under 12 years of age live in poverty.
- More than 600 people are homeless in Rochester on a daily basis.
- More than 300 of our daily homeless population are mothers and children younger than 18 years old.
- When the existing emergency shelters are filled, the back up is an unsuitable location without any support services, including low-end hotels often frequented by drug addicts, pedophiles, and other dangerous individuals.
ANSWERING THE CALL FOR HELP
Volunteers of America's new Emergency Family Shelter is a place of healing for families in need. In addition to shelter VOA provides families with:
- Support to address the problems they are facing through strong case management
- Basic needs of daily living, and
- Linkages to community resources
The shelter has ten private guest rooms, offering a safe and comfortable place to stay for a parent/guardian and up to four children. Several large common areas including a children’s activity area, community room, kitchen, dining area, and bath facilities are also on site.