Prescott Area Winter Shelter (PAWS)

VISTA Member: Ali Kopinto
Year of Service: November 2007-2008

Project Overview:  A community collaboration between 10 organizations created the Prescott Area Winter Shelter (PAWS) as a pilot project. The Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ) took the lead role in establishing the project and provided fiscal sponsorship, allowing PAWS to be filed under their 501(C)(3) nonprofit status. The adjoining nine organizations shared knowledge of social service resources, funding, publicity, and helped fill volunteer roles for the shelter.

Supporting Organization: Youth Count 

Project Goals:  To create a permanent homeless shelter for women and women with children of the quad-city area.

Accomplishments 

The shelter’s three-month budget of $15,000 was raised in only a month and a half due to immense community support. The PAWS Program Director works to ensure that the shelter will continue to have positive change and impact on the community. An open house was held Nov. 28, 2007 and more than 180 Prescott community members attended, including Mayor Jack Wilson and City Councilwoman Lora Lopas. Gerry Garvey, Director of Open Inn–Turning Point, held a 10-hour Shelter Advocacy Training prior to opening the shelter. The Prescott Area Winter Shelter opened on Dec. 3, 2007 and extended services until March 31, 2008.  The 119 nights that we remained open, each night was run and staffed solely by 66 dedicated volunteers.  During our 4 months of service we provided 238 meals and 539 bed nights.  PAWS gave support and empowerment to 46 individuals, 7 of them were children.  

What's Happening Now 

Our current status is that we are now working under Youth Count, this organization is acting as an umbrella organization until PAWS has filed as their own 501 (c) 3 non-profit status.  PAWS is also looking for a permanent location, writing grants and keeping connected with the community it created.  PAWS has created a ripple in the Prescott, AZ community and Prescottonians continue to support PAWS’ long term goal; to create a permanent homeless shelter for women and women with children of the quad-city area.   
 

If you would like to contact PAWS with questions, concerns or donor information, call