Drop in Center

The Drop-In Center, operated by On Our Own of Charlottesville, is located at 123 4th St., NW, in downtown Charlottesville. The building was purchased in 1997 with a generous grant from the United Parcel Service Foundation and a mortgage from Bank of America.   A lovely two story older home, the Drop-in Center, provides a safe environment where folks can come, visit and feel welcome.
     The house has a well-equipped modern kitchen where food is plentiful. Folks have access to it for long periods each day, and they can prepare meals and/or snacks for themselves or others. Much of this food is donated, and some is purchased from either the Food Bank, at reduced cost, or from grocery stores. Coffee is available for hours each morning and evening, and there is a very generous amount of bread and cakes donated each week by bakeries in town. Food donated by local restaurants and caterers is always well received. Holiday dinners are planned and served by members and staff.
     Each Sunday, folks from the Unitarian Church bring a prepared meal to serve at the center, and during the past year students from The University of Virginia cooked meals and spent the evening with center members.
     While some may take them for granted, the availability of shower and laundry facilities is a blessing to those who have access to neither, as is having a mailing address and a place to make and receive phone calls. Newspapers, television and Internet access are also available.
     The home was upgraded with a grant from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation in 1999 to carpet our staircase, one upstairs meeting room and the hallway. Forty students from The University of Virginia were able to paint the entire building in less than four hours, and university students continue to help with building upgrades throughout the school year.
     On Our Own staff visit Western State Hospital weekly, and work with patients who could be discharged but lack the skills and resources needed to live in the community.
     The three bedrooms on the second floor of the home have provided housing for many individuals during the past four years. One, an ex-patient from Western State, would still be hospitalized were it not for this option. The other residents are formerly homeless persons with issues around mental illness and/or substance abuse. Housing is not time limited, leaving enough time and space for each person to adequately address his specific issues. Recently a former patient at Western State Hospital lived at the Drop-in Center until he learned the skills needed to live on his own. He now lives in his own apartment in Charlottesville with a friend met while he lived at the Drop-In Center.