Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation
Encyclopedia
Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC) founded 1981, is a not-for-profit social service agency located in Union City
, New Jersey
. The organization provides numerous programs and services with the aim to combat poverty
and end the cycle of homelessness
and hunger in Hudson County, New Jersey
.
As a nonprofit organization, PERC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director.
PERC is a member of the New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness.
. It is one of only three shelters in the county.
PERC serves 200 free meals daily to clients and the community at its 37th street location. In November 2006, PERC opened the only family shelter in Hudson County. Families living in the shelter have access to all programs that PERC offers.
With grants from the State of New Jersey and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD), as part of a combined project with the United Way of Hudson county and Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation, PERC provides lease based affordable housing to help transition the homeless into permanent housing. In addition, construction began in 2008 to build eight long term housing units for individuals considered chronically homeless under HUD guidelines. These individuals will have ongoing case management and access to PERC services.
PERC operates a multi-service community center with educational classes, vocational training and social services. All classes are free and open to the public. Classes offered include Computer Training, ESL
, job training, resume writing, literacy, art and health classes. Through education, advocacy and outreach, this community center acts as a support network to secure stability and growth within the area.
Starting in 2007, PERC began an on-site education program for children age 6 to 12. These classes are designed to complement and expand upon regular school programs and assist those needing additional educational assistance.
, and directed by former Guttenberg
mayor Peter Lavilla, about three former entertainers whose depression and addiction has led to their living in a homeless shelter, was partially filmed in Union City's PERC homeless shelter. In 2008, it was entered into the Sundance
, Tribeca
, and Hoboken
Film Festivals.
Union City
-In the United States:*Union City, Connecticut *Union City, California *Union City, Georgia *Union City, Indiana , across the state line from Union City, Ohio...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The organization provides numerous programs and services with the aim to combat poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and end the cycle of homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
and hunger in Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
.
History
PERC, originally founded as Saint John's Shelter on Palisades Avenue in Union City, New Jersey, was one of the founding homeless shelters in Hudson County. Operating in a church basement, the organization outgrew its location and moved to 36th Street and Park Avenue in a newly renovated facility during the spring of 1994. The facility occupies two city blocks within the city.As a nonprofit organization, PERC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and managed by an Executive Director.
PERC is a member of the New Jersey Advocacy Network to End Homelessness.
Program overview
PERC provides 40 beds to men and women who are in need of shelter. Once situated, the clients receive clean clothing, have access to in-house laundry service, grooming facility, showers, meals and support programs to receive job training, employment, and social services. This is about one quarter of all of the available shelter space in Hudson CountyHudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
. It is one of only three shelters in the county.
PERC serves 200 free meals daily to clients and the community at its 37th street location. In November 2006, PERC opened the only family shelter in Hudson County. Families living in the shelter have access to all programs that PERC offers.
With grants from the State of New Jersey and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
(HUD), as part of a combined project with the United Way of Hudson county and Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation, PERC provides lease based affordable housing to help transition the homeless into permanent housing. In addition, construction began in 2008 to build eight long term housing units for individuals considered chronically homeless under HUD guidelines. These individuals will have ongoing case management and access to PERC services.
PERC operates a multi-service community center with educational classes, vocational training and social services. All classes are free and open to the public. Classes offered include Computer Training, ESL
ESL
ESL is a common abbreviation for English as a Second Language, see English language learning and teaching.ESL may also refer to:-Companies:...
, job training, resume writing, literacy, art and health classes. Through education, advocacy and outreach, this community center acts as a support network to secure stability and growth within the area.
Starting in 2007, PERC began an on-site education program for children age 6 to 12. These classes are designed to complement and expand upon regular school programs and assist those needing additional educational assistance.
In media
Oak Hil, a film starring Sally KirklandSally Kirkland
Sally Kirkland is an American film and television actress.-Early life:Kirkland was named after her mother, fashion editor Sally Kirkland, who was a fashion editor at Vogue and LIFE magazines, and was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father, Frederic McMichael Kirkland, worked in the scrap...
, and directed by former Guttenberg
Guttenberg, New Jersey
Guttenberg , is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population was 11,176. Only four blocks wide, Guttenberg is one of the smallest municipalities in New Jersey and the most densely populated incorporated place in the...
mayor Peter Lavilla, about three former entertainers whose depression and addiction has led to their living in a homeless shelter, was partially filmed in Union City's PERC homeless shelter. In 2008, it was entered into the Sundance
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, Tribeca
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
, and Hoboken
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
Film Festivals.