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A diversion is a service that attempts to get someone the help they need - safe housing - before they enter the shelter system. It’s a process to help people uncover resources and opportunities they may not know they have available to them. Using motivational interviewing techniques and a script to explore alternatives, we can learn where someone stayed previously, what it would take to keep them there, and what other options might exist.

This is a question from our Q&A series connected by Infotech. 

Low-barrier shelters are built around the idea that programs should fit the needs of the people they serve, rather than trying to make the people served fit the needs of the program. As the only low-barrier shelter in North Florida, GRACE serves our guests regardless of whether someone has income, or is struggling with substance abuse or mental health issues. 

This is a question from our Q&A series connected by Infotech. 

Homeless people have only one thing in common: the lack of safe, affordable housing. Beyond that, many of the things we've historically associated with homelessness, like substance abuse and mental health issues, play a role for some individuals, but generally don't cause homelessness. That said, misuse of drugs and alcohol can make it difficult for people to obtain and maintain housing, and put those individuals at greater risk for homelessness (Moxley, et al., 2020). 

Effective March 20, 2020 at 7p, GRACE has announced a voluntary quarantine for its 25-acre homeless services campus at 3055 NE 28th Dr. At this time, GRACE has not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. These are proactive steps designed with the safety of our staff, our guests, and our community in mind. 

Satchel’s Pizza is proud to award their 2019 Satch Capital Grant award to GRACE, a project of the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry. GRACE will use the award to purchase a box truck to deliver furniture to people as they move into housing.

Dignity Village, the 200+ person homeless camp operated by the City of Gainesville, will close at the end of the year, and be replaced with a temporary campground focused entirely on moving campers into affordable housing.

Now in its 18th year, THE FEST is an independent multi-day underground music festival held in Gainesville. This year, FEST is donating $1 from every FEST pass directly to GRACE! You can also find this very punk Black Flag inspired "End Homelessness" for sale in their Merch Store (and yes, all proceeds benefit our work ending homelessness)! 

But that's not all! The ink masters at Anthem Tattoo have reached out to FEST bands to gather autographed LPs, special merch, and other special prizes to giveaway via an online raffle. To learn more and enter to win visit: grace.rallyup.com/fest18 

GRACE has resumed normal operating procedures. Our emergency storm shelter is now closed. Click here for more details. 

GRACE is thrilled to present our five-year report, "Ending Homelessness is Possible," released in June 2019. The report describes our programs, services, community impact, financials, and - best of all - the exciting work ahead! 

In March, we kicked off The 300 Challenge during The Amazing Give. Through the Amazing Give campaign, we raised $23,371 toward our fundraising goal of $90,000. To continue the challenge, we've created a new home for it on our main fundraising site. The donations we've collected so far have been transferred to our new platform.