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About Community CARES

Community CARES (initially known as Carlisle C.A.R.E.S.) was organized in 2004 as a ministry of the Grace United Methodist Church (presently Carlisle United Methodist Church). After sheltering a small number of men for a night, church and community members realized the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness were far bigger than anticipated. We provide: EMERGENCY SHELTER: coordinate and provide overnight emergency shelter to over 400 individuals and families experiencing homelessness throughout Cumberland and surrounding counties 365 days a year. Clients sleep on mats in churches and provided bedding and a location to store bedding daily. When appropriate transportation to and from the overnight shelters. RESOURCE CENTER: a day center where residents perform basic tasks such as shower, laundry, cook meals, make phone calls, receive mail and messages, lockers to store personal items. The center also acts as a place of contact for other community services like weekly medical assessments by local doctors, monthly oral exams by local oral surgeon, and monthly intake completion by Merakey professional. COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM WALK-IN SITE: is the Cumberland County’s approach to organizing and providing housing services for people experiencing homelessness. Access to the system is through the 211 system or a walk-in site. Community CARES is the only physical access site in the county. CUMBERLAND STREET REACH: Community CARES began a Street Outreach program during 2018. The goal of Street Outreach is to engage, assess, and combat homelessness for individuals living on the streets, in encampment and other locations not intended for human habitation. In 2021 CARES opened its own brick-and-mortar shelter facility in Shippensburg through a partnership with The Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania with the capacity of sheltering 17 families. Within that same facility Community CARES now has four recuperative care beds in partnership with WellSpan.

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