Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation

Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC) founded 1981, is not-for-profit social service agency located in Union City, New Jersey. The organization provides numerous programs and services with the aim to combat poverty and end the cycle of homelessness and hunger in Hudson County, New Jersey.

History

PERC, originally founded as Saint John's Shelter on Palisades Avenue in Union City, New Jersey, was one of the founding homeless shelters in Hudson County. Operating in a church basement, the organization outgrew its location and moved to 36th Street and Park Avenue in a newly renovated facility during the spring of 1994. The facility stretches two city blocks within the City.

Program overview

PERC provides 40 beds to men and women who are in need of shelter. Once situated, the clients receive clean clothing, have access to in-house laundry service, grooming facility, showers, meals and support programs to receive job training, employment, and social services.cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/jjournal/stories/index.ssf?/base/living-1/1216794397166150.xml&coll=3|title=Shelter needs help to give its PERCs to people|last=Castano|first=Edwin|date=2008-07-23|work=The Jersey Journal|accessdate=2008-08-19] This is about one quarter of all of the available shelter space in Hudson County.cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/jjournal/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-3/1218435955140970.xml&coll=3|title=Homeless number seems much too low|last=Clark|first=Amy Sarah|date=2008-08-11|work=The Jersey Journal|accessdate=2008-08-19] It is one of only three shelters in the county. [cite news|url=http://www.hudsonreporter.com/site/news.cfm?dept_id=523586&newsid=19872583|title=Doing More for the Homeless|last=Kaulessar|first=Ricardo|date=2008-07-25|work=Hudson Reporter|accessdate=2008-08-19]

PERC serves 200 free meals daily to clients and the community at its 37th street location. In November 2006, PERC opened the first and only family shelter in Hudson County. Families living in the shelter have access to all programs that PERC offers.

With grants from the State of New Jersey and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as part of a combined project with the United Way of Hudson county and Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation, PERC provides lease based affordable housing to help transition the homeless into permanent housing. In addition, construction began in 2008 to build eight long term housing units for individuals considered chronically homeless under HUD guidelines. These individuals will have ongoing case management and access to PERC services.

PERC operates a multi-service community center with educational classes, vocational training and social services. All classes are free and open to the public. Classes offered include Computer Training, ESL, job training, resume writing, literacy, art and health classes. Through education, advocacy and outreach, this community center acts as a support network to secure stability and growth within the area.

Starting in 2007, PERC began an on-site education program for children age 6 to 12. These classes are designed to compliment and expand upon regular school programs and assist those needing additional educational assistance.

Organization

As a nonprofit organization, PERC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director. As of August 2008, the Executive Director is Jeffrey Brunner and the President of the Board of Directors is Kymberli Morris.

PERC is a member of the New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness. [cite web|url=http://www.monarchhousing.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/NJANEHMembers.pdf|title=NJANEH Members|publisher=New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness|accessdate=2008-08-19]

References

External links

* [http://www.percshelter.org PERC Official site]