Programs

The JCOC is dedicated to offering people the opportunity to lead a productive, healthy and happy lifestyle.

Housing & Rehabilitation

The Center has dorm-style accommodations for 50 single men, women and families. The policy of the JCOC requires each resident to work towards change in lifestyle—to make the change from homelessness caused by substance abuse, mental illness, lack of job skills or just unfortunate circumstances to a productive lifestyle. Access to substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling and job training is offered to each resident.

Thanks to federal, state and city funding, as well as partnerships with private funding sources, we are building affordable housing in the form of apartment-style units designed for either Transitional or Permanent Supportive Housing use.

Employment Services

Upon enrollment, each resident is assigned a case manager. Together, the resident and manager complete a skills and interest assessment to develop an Independent Living Plan (ILP). The resident is referred to on- and off-site services that best facilitate his/her recovery.

Direct Employment Support Services:

- Comprehensive evaluation to determine skills and interests for employment

- Vocational counseling and rehabilitiation for employment services

- Job training, job search skills, resume development and work readiness assistance

- Post-secondary training- college, vocational, technical and business

JCOC residents and case managers also work together to:

- Determine transferable skills

- Identify viable employment options

- Explore labor market and wages

- Determine specific job qualifications

- Establish employment goal

Employment services are key to resident success. In addition to the above services, JCOC provides bi-monthly resume writing and interview skills workshops to help residents prepare for job searches.

Residents may also complete culinary classes in preparation for jobs in the food and hospitality industries. The JCOC works with an accomplished chef to provide food service and handling training to give residents a competitive edge. Each resident receives a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Community Food Assistance

The JCOC provides the homeless and indigent one wholesome meal each day. The Frank Bragg Dining Hall serves an average of 100 people daily and more than 35,000 meals annually. The meal is served to JCOC residents, as well as many families and individuals in the neighborhood who are in need. Many people have avoided becoming homeless because of funds they have saved by eating at the dining hall.

The dining hall also maintains a food pantry, which is available to families in need. Each night, one of more than 100 churches, synagogues, organizations and individuals supporting the JCOC provide, prepare and serve the meal.

To make all this possible, we also partner with the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia.

The Blumenthal-Schor Education Program

The education facility enables the JCOC to meet the residents' educational needs as well as the low-income residents in the neighborhood. We encourage residents who have not completed high school to be tested and begin working toward taking the GED test. Volunteer tutors assist residents with resume building, computer skills and GED preparation. Catholic Charities of Hampton Roads provides family life training and enrichment. A well-equipped library offers resource materials to supplement studies.

Addiction support group meetings, church services, Sunday School and bible studies are also held regularly in the facility.

Computer Lab

Our computer lab offers classes for residents to practice the skills they have learned, including writing resumes and cover letters, personal and business correspondence, and communicating via email with friends, family and prospective employers. The lab is available to JCOC residents as well as homeless and community members.