The United Way of Hall County opens the Compass Center today, a one-stop community resource center connecting local non-profits with those in need of their services.
“We’re a resource rich community,” Compass Center Manager Joshua Silavent said. “We just want to help better the connection, coordination, communication among all the agencies.”
United Way of Hall County’s President and Chief Professional Officer Joy Griffin was given the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the center.
“We have transitioned the work of United Way over the last four years to make a bigger impact in our community,” Griffin said. “To truly work together to solve problems larger than any one organization can solve alone. And that’s all we hope to do, to continue to foster that team effort and that collective help.
“That’s what the Compass Center is about. To help navigate life for anyone who’s struggling.”
The center located on Oak Street in Gainesville consists of three different elements.
They have what they call ‘general intake’ where anyone can just show up and talk with qualified volunteers so the center can determine what services are best to meet their needs.
There are also direct agencies on site. The Compass Center has already partnered with Goodwill, Hall County Family Connection, Good News Clinic (which will be operating on site five days a week) and Action Ministries (which will operate one day a week).
The final element that the Compass Center offers is a classroom and meeting space that is open to any type of community groups, neighborhood associations and other non-profits to utilize for educational workshops or other presentations. A local shelter for women has already signed up to hold their board meetings at the center.
“That space has a lot of potential once we get established and connected to really help facilitate the work of some of our smaller non-profits and ministries,” Silavent said. “That’s really my hope for that space.”
The center will keep a database of existing agencies and resources offered at any given time, which will be continuously updated, to better serve those who visit the center with the most appropriate resources for each individual situation such as affordable housing, education, workforce development, healthcare access and hunger relief.
“I’ve seen the community become galvanized around this anti-poverty initiative,” Silavent said. “I’ve really seen the public become committed to this cause, so that’s really been exciting for me personally. It’s given me a lot of confidence that what we’re doing here can really be successful.”
Silavent will be the only full-time staff member on site, but says there will be 20 volunteers working to fill different roles from front desk duties to intake officers that sit down with clients.
“These guys and these women are just dedicated and passionate about serving the community,” Silavent said. “Really generous with their time and have really given themselves to me to work in any way that they think is best to serve this organization. They’re critical.
“I think as we get going and as we get established, we’re going to see some dramatic results.”
