Our Community Place

Whitehouse, Olivia (2023-07-24). "Shelter trying to help people get out of the heat". WHSV. Retrieved 2023-07-26.

Our Community Place
Our Community Place building
Building exterior in 2007
Alternative namesOCP
General information
Statusnonprofit
Typecommunity center
Address17 East Johnson Street
Town or cityHarrisonburg, Virginia
CountryUnited States
Coordinates38.455765°N 78.864641°W / 38.455765; -78.864641
Elevation38.455765
Groundbreaking1999
Construction started2001
Completed2008
Opened2008
Other information
Seating capacity108
Parkingrear/street
Website
Our Community Place
References
EIN 54-1835664

Our Community Place is a community center created by a former Salvation Army building located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States. The building was converted to a community center after Ron Copeland acquired ownership in 1999. After a lengthy renovation period, the center opened to the community in August 2008.

History

In 1999, Ron Copeland, owner of the Little Grill diner purchased the then-vacant Salvation Army building at 17 East Johnson Street in Harrisonburg, Virginia — with hopes of creating a community center as an extension of the weekly soup kitchen he operated at his restaurant on Mondays. After a period of rehabbing the building, Our Community Place opened to the Harrisonburg, Virginia community in August 2008.[1]

With Copeland serving as director, OCP staff and volunteers soon became "overworked" by a single aspect of the organizational mission: serving as a day homeless shelter. This led to a decision by the board of directors to close the center temporarily on September 1, 2011.[1]

After a brief "hiatus" to allow for review and redirection, the center reopened October 11, 2011. Copeland said OCP was not undergoing a "reincarnation as a change so much as a refocusing on its original mission."[1]

Reopening

After reopening, and Philip Fisher Rhodes took over as executive director. Community center hours were significantly reduced. Of this change in leadership, and his additional role as founder-pastor of Early Church — a Mennonite congregation that met at OCP — Copeland said, "I had three full-time jobs, and I gave up two of them. . . I'm very excited to begin focusing on the work of the church I'm a pastor of."[1]

The center, which had been offering its lawn as a place for area homeless to shelter in tents, was forced to end this policy in the summer of 2019 by the City of Harrisonburg.[2] The city made it clear that "under the current laws our zoning does not allow for overnight sheltering.”[3]

This change in availability of space for the homeless to stay forced the city to consider developing other options,[3] while freeing OCP to focus on its priority programs. As Nickels stated:[3]

OCP’s mission is not as an overnight shelter. We’re trying to do this for the community and for folks who are homeless, but once that time period is over we need to go back and exclusively focus on our day programs.

City Manager Eric Campbell stated city staff had been working for months to identify gaps in the local services offered to homeless people and wondering, “How do we begin to address these gaps?”[3]

Community role

OCP focuses on creating a space where people with diverse experiences can pause and hear themselves scream for help from within. When you are knocking on doors and no doors will open, this will be the place to go to,” he said. “There is no place like OCP. It is a home away from home where everyone that walks in those doors can take a breath without being judged. That is the spirit if OCP and that is why we open the doors.”[4]

Leons KaBongo, Place Activities and Programming Coordinator

OCP operates and manages a community center that "offers creative community meals, recreational activities, meaningful work, rest from the elements, positive relationships, spiritual guidance, and some basic services for individuals struggling with homelessness." Meals the center offers also provide "an opportunity for employment, skill building volunteerism."[5]

In a January 7, 2021 letter to the editor entitled "Nobody Should Be Hungry" in the local newspaper, Nickels said, "We serve a free hot breakfast Monday through Friday at 8 a.m., lunch at noon, we hand out groceries to families in need, and refer people to a variety of resources that can help with utility payments, rent/mortgage payments. We help people access housing when homeless and other needs. . ."[6]

In addition to meals and shelter, OCP offers services such as laundry and showers, storage lockers, case management, volunteer and job training opportunities, and help finding housing.[7]

Meals

OCP provides "17,000 meals a year to the city’s homeless and others with food insecurity."[7] It also operates a restaurant every Friday at lunchtime, with a guest chef from a local restaurant or food service preparing the meal.[5]

The center serves 100 people or so at Thanksgiving each year; its volunteers additionally delivered 40 meals to "people in need around the community" in 2022.[8]

Shelter

Other shelter services for the homeless in Harrisonburg look to OCP to provide overflow support when the weather turns particularly cold. As Ashley Robinson, shelter director of the Open Door Thermal Shelter, said during a cold snap in January 2022, “What we’ve been looking into is possibly extending hours and working with other organizations like Our Community Place, just trying to keep our unhoused neighbors safe and warm.” The center opens on weekends for such emergency use.[9] OCP extends its hours during extremely cold weather, requiring additional shelter monitors during the day.[10]

OCP also provides relief from the heat of summer.[11] As case management specialist Amanda Morris states: "we provide people kind of a cool place to come in just to hang out and get outside of the heat.”[12]

Providing for affordable housing for all is a major aim included in Harrisonburg's 2039 Vision Plan. In accordance, in November 2021 the City Council agreed that part of the city's $23.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds should be used to provide a permanent homeless shelter.[13]

The City of Harrisonburg announced in June 2022 it intended to purchase a 6,730-square-foot building situated on 3.72 acres of land on North Main Street from Shenandoah Presbytery for the purpose of converting the property into a permanent, low-barrier homeless shelter. Nickels stated, “We have an opportunity now as a community to plan comprehensive homeless services. How can we effectively put together those services in a way that really helps folks to move on from homelessness?”[13]

When Open Doors, the low-barrier shelter system housing up to 50 people each night on James Madison University property, ceased operation in August 2022, some "unhoused" Harrisonburg residents were considering other options, including sleeping on the sidewalks around OCP.[14][15] Center staff participated in a meeting of city and community leaders hosted by Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed to discuss short-term options for providing overnight shelter.[16]

Water

As part of a new program called “The Humankind Water Drop” Humankind Water set itself the goal of delivering 100,000 liters of water to homeless shelters across the country. In August 2021, the organization donated water to Mercy House in Harrisonburg, whose Executive Director, Shannon Porter, planned on sharing with Our Community Place and the Open Doors shelter. "There’s a lot of people on our streets right now that need this type of assistance. It is hot during the day and there is no shelter for them during the day so this is going to be put to use very quickly,” she said. [17]

Kitchen coordinator Margot Heffernan confirms, “We put big water jugs out in the early part of the day, even before we open so that there’s always a source of water for people when they’re feeling especially hot.”[12]

Housing

OCP began working with Harrisonburg-area landlords in 2020 to help them better understand the needs of OCP's client population as property management companies tend to erect "barriers, making it difficult for those who are low-income, have been previously incarcerated, or have a history of eviction to gain access to equitable housing." This helped advance their aim to:[18]

Move more folks out of chronic homelessness and into these permanent housing units with supportive, ongoing case management to try to help them not fall into the circle of going in and out of housing but to stay in that housing and overcome the barriers they have in life.

In 2020 OCP placed upwards 50+ people in permanent housing. They had "solidified 15 placements" through the Spring of 2021.[19] The center helped 90+ homeless people find housing during the COVID-19.[18]

In December 2021, Nickles announced that OCP had just purchased their first property. "It’s sort of a pilot program, so if it works out well, hopefully we will do another one.”[18] As Vance Fowler, 45, who has lived at a property owned by OCP since December 2021, stated:[20]

To have the ability to get in and out the rain, to take a shower when you want to, to go get clean clothes. You would be surprised what you take for granted that homeless people don’t even have a chance at having.

OCP has applied for a special-use permit and rezoning request for another project on Reservoir Street in Harrisonburg, consisting of four units of one-bedroom dwellings for people "transitioning out of homelessness."[21]

In March 2022, OCP was awarded $118,106 of the total the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission $1.66 million in gap funding to regional developers of affordable housing. “These monies will cover half the cost for Our Community Place to build two efficiency apartments for the most vulnerable and low-income homeless persons in our region,” Nickels said.[22]

Garden

OCP operates a community garden on half an acre between two houses nearby the center. Activities and programming coordinator, Leons Kabongo, who directs the OCP project Young Jupiter Market Garden, wants the garden to be a place "where community volunteers help prepare the soil, plant and harvest the produce and, of course, pull weeds" and "marginalized people can come to as a refuge. "The “Young” in the name is meant "to inspire youth to learn about their environment, nature and growing their own food." "Jupiter" is meant to give others the feeling Kabongo found working the land.[23]

Funding
Chris 'Critter' Fuqua (guitar) with Ketch Secor (banjo) at benefit show.
caption=Chris 'Critter' Fuqua (guitar) with Ketch Secor (banjo) perform at OCP benefit show across the street at the Little Grill Collective.

In support of the important role OCP plays in the Harrisonburg-area, the Rockingham County budget for fiscal year 2023 includes $15,000 for the center and its programs.[24]

In addition to the Friday Lunch Restaurant (originally Night Out) and Box Lunch Catering, fundraising OCP participates in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Great Community Give each year.[25] In April 2022 over $50,000 was collected by OCP out of a total of $1.72 raised during the event.[26] From 2003, and for years thereafter, OCP sponsored a plant sale with live music, also in April.[27]

During the COVID-19 shutdown, OCP decided to combine their two major fundraising events – a Fall Gala and the Christmas Concert – in 2020.[28] Local chef Tassie Pippert worked with the center's cooks to prepare the dinner for the Fall Gala. Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show and Trent Wagler of The Steel Wheels performed during the live-streamed concert.[28] Executive director, Sam Nickels, described getting through the pandemic as "an unpredictable and crazy roller coaster."[7]

We’ve lost a lot of money from fundraisers that have not happened, but we’ve gotten a lot of support from the government’s PPP program (Paycheck Protection Program), The Community Foundation emergency fund, and our donors have also really stepped up."

— Sam Nickles

OCP pools resources with other Harrisonburg organizations – Mercy House, Open Doors, and the Suitcase Clinic – to "bolster aid . . during the era of COVID-19, which has required an additional level of coordination to keep vulnerable clients safe and healthy."[29] The center benefited from Federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress[29] which allowed the center to retain all of its existing staff and giving them "the freedom to hire additional staff to meet the expanded programming needs stemming from the COVID-19 emergency,” said Eric Olson-Getty, director of development and administration.[30]

The center was one of 12 community partners in the Harrisonburg area who received $14,000[31] out of a total of more than $518,000 as part of the Sentara Healthcare Fall 2022 "Sentara Cares" grant cycle.[32] This funding will go "specifically to our case management program. . allow(ing) case managers to visit folks in their houses. It will help cover transportation costs. So we can work with people in their housing to resolve issues and keep them housed,” Nickels states.[31]

In February 2018, OCP received a $3,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation, proceeds from which they planned to use "to supply nearly 400 meals".[33] The Denton Family Foundation presented OCP with a check for $33,200 on November 16, 2021.[34] The foundation annually hosts a golf tournament to raise money to donate to non-profit organizations in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. On presenting the check, Terri Denton, whose father established the foundation, said:[34]

For the second time, Impact Ministries of Elkton, Virginia – founded in 2012 by Pastor Brad Lewis in a garage – chose OCP as the organization to sponsor with one of its charity motorcycle rides in 2019. Thirty riders participated in the fundraising event on a Saturday in October, raising over $500 in charitable contributions.[35]

Solar panels

In 2018, Give Solar, a nonprofit organization founded by Jeff Heie, "raises money and seeks grants to provide solar energy to other nonprofits that can benefit from the cost savings that solar energy can provide." After working with Eastern Mennonite University and Gift and Thrift in Harrisonburg, they made solarizing the OCP building their next project. Give Solar was granted $9,000 by the Merck Company Foundation with an additional $9,000 raised through crowdfunding and "affinity groups". In a “solar barn-raising”, $25,000 in solar panels were installed with the help of volunteers. The solar energy collected by these panels was expected to reduce the community center's electric bill by 75 percent, which should amount to about $3,600 a year in savings.[36]

Personnel

As of February 2021, Sam Nickels served as executive director,[6] with a salary of just under $40,000 per annum.[37] He stated his intention to resign in a letter posted to the OCP website on April 27, 2023. Matt Tibbles serves as the new executive director (as of July 2023).[38] Other staff include:

  • Ron Copeland meets with James Madison University students.March 24, 2008
    Ron Copeland meets with James Madison University students.
    March 24, 2008
  • Serving food at soup kitchen in Little Grill CollectiveMay 23, 2008
    Serving food at soup kitchen in Little Grill Collective
    May 23, 2008
  • Arts and Crafts night at OCP.May 20, 2008
    Arts and Crafts night at OCP.
    May 20, 2008
  • Tandem bicycle riders in Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Festival.July 28, 2012
    Tandem bicycle riders in Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Festival.
    July 28, 2012
  • Old-time country band The Lotus Eaters perform at plant sale fundraiser.April 19, 2008
    Old-time country band The Lotus Eaters perform at plant sale fundraiser.
    April 19, 2008
  • Checklist sign for Our Community Place construction and renovation projects.
    Checklist sign for Our Community Place construction and renovation projects.
  • Several community members jigsaw puzzling at OCP.
    Several community members jigsaw puzzling at OCP.

Major organizational funders

Major organizational sources of funding for OCP include:

In-kind donations (produce, other food, tent rentals, etc.) come from a number of sources, including:

  • Farmers & Merchants Bank
  • Hess Financial
  • LPL Financial
  • Park View Bank FCU
  • Dupont Bank FCU
  • The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Foundation
  • Truist (BBT & SunTrust) Foundation
  • United Way
  • Bank of America
  • Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
  • Everence
  • First Bank & Trust
  • CoBank

References
  1. Hunt, Jeremy (2011-10-10). "Our Community Place Goes Back To The Basics". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  2. Manley, Bridget (2019-07-01). "City leaders pulling together ideas to address 'nightmare' for those experiencing homelessness". The Harrisonburg Citizen. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  3. Knupp, Jeremiah (2019-08-02). "With the OCP lawn no longer available for overnight stays, service providers say it's time for a year-round, publicly-funded, low-barrier shelter". The Harrisonburg Citizen. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  4. Jessica, Wetzler (2019-11-28). "HOT FOOD, WARM SMILES: Our Community Place, Volunteers Provide Thanksgiving Meal". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  5. "Our Community Place | United Way of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County". getconnected.uwhr.org. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  6. Nickels, Sam (2021-01-15). "Refer People To Our Community Place". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  7. Gorton, Eric (2020-05-26). "Some nonprofits see outpouring of support as they adjust to new realities". The Harrisonburg Citizen. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  8. Johnson, Colby (2022-11-24). "Our Community Place serves expanded Thanksgiving meal to those in need". whsv.com. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  9. Johnson, Colby (2022-01-25). "Harrisonburg's homeless facing another tough week with cold temperatures ahead". www.nbc29.com. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  10. Lynch, Jillian (2023-01-04). "Partnerships Lead to Expanded Services for Local Homeless During Extreme Cold Weather". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  11. Whitehouse, Olivia (2023-07-24). "Shelter trying to help people get out of the heat". WHSV. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  12. Johnson, Colby (2022-07-21). "Harrisonburg homeless population facing limited options to beat the heat". WHSV. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  13. Koch, Kamryn (2022-06-23). "City To Purchase Land For Permanent Homeless Shelter". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  14. Lynch, Jillian (2022-08-16). "Former Open Doors Guests Unsure Where To Go Now". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  15. Pynn, Calvin (2022-08-15). "Nowhere to go: Harrisonburg's homeless protest loss of shelter". WMRA and WEMC. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  16. Johnson, Colby (2022-08-22). "Harrisonburg community leaders discuss ways to address homelessness". www.whsv.com. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  17. Marcellino, Isabella (2021-08-16). "Humankind Water donates to Mercy House". WHSV. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  18. Church, Chelsea (2021-12-13). "Community Spotlight: Our Community Place". WHSV. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  19. Moses, Desiré. "Hear Together: Our Community Place". WNRN. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  20. Daily News-Record, Ian Munro. "Housing Availability A Challenge For Those Breaking Out Of Homelessness". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  21. Daily News-Record, Ian Munro (2022-02-08). "City Council To Consider Regal Theater Apartment Complex". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  22. "CSPDC grants will support 60 new units of affordable housing across the region". Augusta Free Press. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  23. Marcus, Holly (2019-11-04). "A market garden with a remarkable backstory". The Harrisonburg Citizen. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  24. Stepler, Kellen (2022-07-20). "Applications For Nonprofit County Funding Open". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  25. "Support Our Community Place in #greatcommunitygive! | Great Community Give". www.greatcommunitygive.org. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  26. Lynch, Jillian (2022-04-21). "Great Community Give Fundraiser Exceeds $5 Million In 5 Years". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  27. "Our Community Place Plant Sale next weekend". Augusta Free Press. 2009-04-09. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  28. Pynn, Calvin. "Our Community Place Combines Annual Fundraisers". WMRA. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  29. Lorei, Tristan (2020-05-21). "How 4 groups created a safety net". The Harrisonburg Citizen. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  30. Hagi, Randi (2020-05-08). "Hburg starts to get federal funds". The Harrisonburg Citizen. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  31. McKenny, Simone (2022-12-23). "Sentara Community Impact: Our Community Place". WHSV. Retrieved 2022-12-24.
  32. Newsroom, WHSV (2022-12-09). "Sentara Healthcare announces local fall grants". WHSV3. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  33. Stout, Nolan (2018-03-02). "Our Community Place Receives $3,000 Grant". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  34. Rogers, Kyle (2021-11-17). "Denton Family Foundation presents check to Our Community Place'". www.whsv.com. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  35. Williams, Megan (2019-10-14). "Bikers Ride For Our Community Place". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  36. Williams, Megan (2018-11-08). "Solar Group Installs $25K in Panels at Our Community Place". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  37. "Our Community Place". Non Profit Data. 2020-09-14. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  38. Campbell, Ashlyn (2023-07-07). "Our Community Place Builds More Apartments To House Homeless Tenants". Daily News-Record. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  39. "Home". Our Community Place. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
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