Homelessness is a taboo topic that often gets swept under the rug. This blog strives to put a face to homelessness while hopefully opening the minds of some readers about the myths revolving around homelessness.
Who are we?
Brother Charlie Rescue Center (BCRC) is a faith-based non-profit agency organized and incorporated in 1979 to serve the homeless in the South Georgia Region. It is named after Charles "Charlie" Sheehan. Charlie was a Purple Heart WWII veteran who became known as the town drunk in the years following the war. But after becoming a Christian, Charlie sobered up and had great compassion for the poor and homeless. He left a $10,000 life insurance policy to begin the rescue mission. His pastor lead the mission for the first several years. Since then, BCRC has grown to be an essential and primary partner in a continuum of assistance for homeless persons to assist persons in exiting homelessness. We have over thirty years of experience as an organizational experience in providing outreach, shelter, essential and supportive services, resource management, collaboration, partnerships, and networking to effectively help participants achieve stable housing and self sufficiency. The Brother Charlie Emergency Shelter Program provides shelter and supportive service for exclusively (100%) homeless persons, as well as outreach to homeless individuals who are not sheltered. We participate within the Georgia Balance of State Continuum of Care plan. Currently, we target chronically homeless males who are 18 years of age, or older, with disabilities. We receive applicants from places not meant for human habitation (streets, cars, woods, abandoned buildings, etc.), hospitals, domestic violence situations, other shelters, jail/prison, substance abuse treatment facilities, and psychiatric hospitals. Our agency provides services to the homeless in our area by outreach to the homeless population, emergency shelter, and help homeless individuals access and obtain housing appropriate to their level of functioning and need. In addition, we track barriers to housing, housing status, and referrals to services for clients and record this data in the Pathways HMIS for other providers to access.
Benjamin Thornburgh, Brother Charlie's used to help women but right now is a men only shelter. The current Director, Mark Stone, stated that there is possibility for the near future for Brother Charlie's to open its doors to women again.
Sounds like a great cause! Does Brother Charlies help women and children as well or only adult men?
Dale Van Cantfort, Thanks for the feedback!
Off to a good start!!
Joe Dennis, many men still benefit from his mission! Kudos indeed. Glad you enjoyed the post!