PACEM

04/28/2026

This week, our whole PACEM team came together to celebrate 22 amazing seasons of winter shelter. Huge thanks to Three Notch'd Brewing in Charlottesville for hosting us!

Looking back on 22 years of service fills us with deep gratitude. To every church, volunteer, donor, staff member, and board member—past and present—thank you. You make this vital work possible. The societal ills we face are high, but the strength, compassion, and dedication of this community will always rise above them.

Help us continue this work into our next season and beyond. Learn more about our mission and how to get involved at pacemshelter.org.

04/17/2026

Housing First works, and we see the beautiful results every single day. When people have a safe, stable place to live, they do more than just survive—they truly thrive. This week, we’re excited to celebrate two of our clients who are moving into their very own home, joining others who have already found new beginnings and a fresh sense of independence.

One of our guests recently spent a sunny afternoon relaxing on the plant-filled deck of our transitional house. Moments like this show the life-changing power of having a space to call your own. A quiet place to tend to a garden provides our unhoused neighbors with the foundation they need to grow, heal, and look forward to the future.

With your support, we can explore even more opportunities to help our community.

Head to pacemshelter.org to support our mission today!

03/12/2026

Champions in the ring and in our community! We had some incredible energy at the shelter this week.

Professional wrestlers Steve Maclin (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) and Deonna Purrazzo (All Elite Wrestling) dropped by to lend their support during dinner. They joined our case manager Rydell Payne for a special news interview to discuss the vital work of ending homelessness as our winter shelter season draws to a close.

We also want to send a massive shoutout to Christ Community Church, along with Pastor Geoffrey Maurer and and Pastor Tom White. Thank you Pastor Tom for stepping up and speaking so powerfully on our behalf!

Together, we can build a stronger foundation for our unhoused neighbors. Watch the full interview at the link below to see how you can get involved!

Local nonprofit PACEM partners with churches across Charlottesville to provide temporary shelter for the homeless during the winter months.

03/04/2026

Think winter shelter is all we do? Winter shelter is just one part of what we do at PACEM. We are actively working to build long-term solutions and lasting stability for our unhoused neighbors.

This year, we are piloting a brand-new transitional housing program that currently supports two women. Having a safe, secure space makes an incredible difference in someone's life. As one of the residents recently shared:

"This is the first time I have had a place to call home in over 20 years..."

You can help us continue this life-changing work and provide fresh starts for our community. Support our mission by making a donation today: https://bit.ly/pacemshelter

02/08/2026

PACEM is officially ALL ELITE!

This weekend, the energy was off the charts at our men’s shelter team as we teamed up with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and our incredible community partners. With the powerhouse support of Stokely from AEW, we were able to pack up essential supply bags and deliver big relief to our guests—thank you for helping us step into the ring against homelessness!

We’re so grateful to the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless and their dedicated Executive Director, Shayla Washington, for providing supplies. Special shoutout to Jermaine Dias, our amazing Board Secretary (City of Promise), for lending a hand and heart on the ground.

PACEM is ready to put homelessness down for the 3 count.

Want to know more about how partnerships like this make a difference? Drop your questions below or send us a message!

02/03/2026

Ready to make a difference with every step?

Our amazing community partners at Ragged Mountain Running Shop have a fantastic partnership with Sneakers 4 Good, which gives old shoes a new life. It’s the perfect opportunity to clean out your closet for a great cause!

As you find those pairs you no longer need, consider also stepping up for our unhoused neighbors. A donation to PACEM helps us provide critical shelter and support to those who need it most.

Your support, whether through shoes or a donation, helps build a stronger community.

02/02/2026

Big things are happening at PACEM as we announce an exciting new partnership!

We have officially teamed up with Mary Butler Coleman to help ramp up our development efforts and take our mission to the next level. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and advocacy, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge and passion that aligns perfectly with our vision.

Mary’s expertise in building donor relationships and strategic grant writing will be instrumental as we work to expand our impact and continue serving our community with excellence. We are so grateful to have her guiding our fundraising journey!

01/27/2026

1/27 UPDATE: We have met our goal -- many times over! Y'all are incredible. Thank you. Extra funds raised will be shared with other homeless service providers & community groups supporting unhoused folks, along with work to move people from hotels > housing. More soon.
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❄️❗️With extreme cold expected to continue through the rest of the week—and the possibility of additional snow this weekend—will you help us raise the funds needed to keep 82 individuals safely in hotels through Monday, February 2? Donate now: thehaven.org/give-online

The City of Cville has generously funded the first five nights of hotel stays for these individuals, through Tuesday night.

We’re hoping to raise $27,100, with all funds supporting hotel rooms, meals, and the staffing required to coordinate this effort—an average cost of $66 per person per night.

Any amount helps! Thank you for your help keeping all community members warm and safe.

01/26/2026

Wondering what we've been doing during the snow?! Taking care of our friends and building community!

Since Saturday evening, the PACEM team has been working nonstop alongside our incredible host churches to provide a safe and warm space for our unhoused friends. The snow outside only made our mission inside warmer.

01/24/2026

A little snow on the forecast won't stop us! When we heard flurries were coming, the PACEM team did what we do best: we sprang into action.

Thanks to the incredible support of our amazing friends and community volunteers, we were able to move our shelter operations a little earlier than planned. This ensures every one of our guests has a safe, warm place to be, well before the first snowflake falls.

It’s moments like these that show the power of community and our shared commitment to looking out for one another. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this quick move possible!

Special thanks to Church of the Incarnation and St. Mark Lutheran for wrapping up early and lending a hand with the move, and a huge shoutout to University Baptist and Belmont Baptist for welcoming guests early and helping us keep everyone safe and warm.