Our Needs

Access to quality mental health services has been a leading health factor and focus area by the National Center for Health Statistics. The resent tragedies that have plaque our country and communities have one common denominator which is the mental health of the individual who commit these acts and has brought mental health to the fore front of the country’s conversation. The Williamsburg Community Health Foundation’s 2003 community needs assessment determined there were 27,000 people in the Greater Williamsburg area without any kind of health insurance much less cover the mentally challenged individual. 10,000 of the 27,000 had incomes BELOW 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Add to this, there is an unknown number who are underinsured.It is now 10 years later and our total population has grown at a rate of approximately 5% per year since these statistics. And, as population grows, so grows the need to be prepared to treat more mentally challenged individuals and the families of those mentally challenged individuals. In determining the needs required you must also take in the demographic of the area. The Virginia Gazette in January 2007 ran a front page editorial entitled: WHAT PEOPLE MAKE, NEW STUDY CONFIRMS LOW PAY IN TOURISM JOBS. The article states that the pay in the Greater Williamsburg which is primarily tourism based can be dismal especially in the hospitality sector. Medical benefits are practically non-existent. This class of employee is faced with the daily decision of whether to pay rent, food, and/or medicine for themselves and their family, in the majority of cases both father and mother work much less having any other resources the take care of a mentally challenged family member. This is precisely where our organization fills a desperately needed avenue for family relief and care of the mentally challenged loved ones. We also fill gaps as best as we can to help family catch the warning signs of mental illness in their families and give them an avenue to deal with the problem where no other help is forthcoming. Our organization relies on the kindness of religious organizations, private donations, fund raisers, and whatever state and federal funding is available to assist these needs.

Additionally, there is a great need for meeting facilities for seniors to attend during the day in circumstances where they are unable to stay home alone and the family is financially unable to provide the care and companionship that seniors require. This service insures that seniors who are on extremely limited financial abilities have a place that is safe, friendly and will assure that the senior will have their needs taken care of as well as having as active a life as their abilities allow them to have. But more importantly, they will have an active social life and the companionship they need at times where the family is unable to be because of work, illness or financial limitations.

A small but growing number of pregnant women need transitional housing.

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