The new head of Culpeper Housing & Shelter Services is building on a background of service in helping community members find self-sufficiency.
Chris McGill Jr., hired as executive director in September, came to CHASS from the Thurman Brisben Center, a 24/7, 365-day homeless shelter in Fredericksburg. He held various positions there, including program director, overseeing the 60- to 80-bed shelter mostly serving families.
“What drives me is when God gives you a vision, I have to see it through. My goal is to get others to see the vision,” McGill said in an interview earlier this year. “I work as hard as I can to try to help.”
Early in adulthood, the Fairfax native studied criminal justice, then worked as a police officer in the Washington area until getting married and entering the Christian ministry.
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In addition to now leading Culpeper Housing, McGill has been pastor at Grace Community Church in Madison for more than a decade. The Fredericksburg resident has a wife who works as a case manager for a local health system and a 2-year-old son.
At Thurman Brisben, McGill started as a mobility mentor program manager, connecting motivated shelter clients with the local business community.
“They work on mental health, finding a place, finding a job, excelling in their job, saving money and using networks, like faith-based organizations, to help them get ahead,” he said.
As program manager at the shelter, McGill oversaw food scheduling, involving more than 100 churches, as well as coordination of children’s programs, family dorms and an outdoor garden. Thurman Brisben Center is the only 24-hour shelter in Fredericksburg, he said.
A year-round shelter is one solution to chronic homelessness, McGill stated.
“It is also somewhat temporary based off of if you are working the program, no one can stay at a shelter permanently, but it does alleviate the pressure,” he said. “These programs are programs inside the program to get the community involved with helping people, finding jobs, sticking with their jobs.
“Accountability is extremely important.”
McGill said he saw success in Fredericksburg with people getting out on their own. The program offered an incentive program for them to come back to the shelter as a spokesperson.
“To say this actually helped, this worked, their mentor will be there, building a bridge of self-sufficiency so it helped in a lot of ways because a lot of people think it couldn’t be me. How is that me?” said McGill. “If you provide the vision, if you narrow down the scope and work with the pieces you are given, it can really take flight.”
Asked about the root causes of homelessness, McGill mentioned trauma.
“Cognitive brain functioning of how a person sees things, that’s a part of it,” he said. “People have the thought, it’s their choice of being homeless. I don’t think it’s that cut and dry.
“There are so many pieces that play into that. I think it’s important that we come alongside an individual and build a relationship with them and help them along the way by any means necessary. We go as far we can, as long as we can, as hard as we can, so we can make a difference. It’s up to the individual to say, this is where I want to be.”
Being informed of resources and strong partnerships with service providers existing in Culpeper helps combat homelessness, he added.
“Can we find a way to come together to try and figure something out with a men’s shelter? Our shelter is more geared to women and children, families. It seems to be a hang up when it comes to men.”
Culpeper Housing operates one transitional homeless shelter, housing 70-80 people annually in addition to rent-controlled apartments and townhomes on the Ann Wingfield property downtown. It’s working on another similar apartment project next to Yowell Meadow Park.
There are waiting lists for all the housing units and the shelter stays full.
McGill said he’d like to see another shelter added to their system.
“My vision is for the organization to continue to grow and expand so that won’t be the only shelter. It is needed,” he said.
Culpeper Housing also provides rapid rehousing and homeless prevention resources like a first month security deposit. What they need most is cash donations, McGill said, of current needs. A nonprofit, Culpeper Housing receives government funding, but also relies on private donations and grants.
State funding for rapid rehousing — money for local motel rooms — is limited and, with the winter heat shelter now closed, there are few options for local homeless. McGill acknowledged many barriers to permanent housing including a low credit score or a criminal record.
He said his credit score was terrible when he was in his 20s and now it’s great.
“I know how that can hold you back,” McGill said, adding, “I can show you the pieces of how I got here, but it’s about you — how far do you want to go and how can you achiever your goals? We just take one piece at a time and try to excel in it.”
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, in February, announced $12 million in the Virginia Housing Trust Fund Homeless Reduction Grants for 55 projects across the commonwealth, including $100,000 in rapid rehousing funds for Culpeper Housing.
“In the pursuit of sustainable economic growth and a thriving business landscape, it is imperative that we develop responsive housing solutions,” he said. “This funding not only safeguards our most vulnerable citizens, but also addresses the changing housing needs of all Virginians.”
“Making sure every Virginian has a place to call home is critical, and this round of grant funding will continue the commonwealth’s efforts to reduce homelessness,” said Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Director, Bryan Horn. “These projects will assist our most vulnerable residents by removing barriers and providing services to support them as they regain housing stability.”