Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area

2020 CCU

Mission Statement

Christian Churches United (CCU) is a collaboration of churches and other partners united in love and service to those facing homelessness, poverty and incarceration. As a leading provider of emergency aid and long-term solutions in the capital region, CCU brings together churches, concerned individuals, businesses, public and private funders, and partner agencies to support individuals and families in crisis, and assist them toward greater stability and self-sufficiency.

About Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area

JOIN US! The 2023 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community is being held the morning of May 20, 2023 at HACC’s Harrisburg Campus, 1 HACC Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17110. (Registration at 7:30am, Walk begins at 9am). COME WALK WITH US as an individual or with a team. And if you want to take part but that date doesn’t work for you, you can schedule your own walk at a time convenient to you or your team.

By walking, you will journey with those struggling with homelessness, poverty, incarceration or other crisis through the Highmark Walk in support of Christian Churches United (CCU)! The walk benefits these efforts of CCU:

HELP Ministries: A lifeline for our community's most vulnerable members, HELP Ministries provides crisis as well as long-term support to folks facing poverty and homelessness. Crisis support includes access to emergency shelter, heating/transportation/prescription medication assistance, and a homelessness prevention program that has helped over 3,000 households pay their rent while they've suffered lost income during the pandemic. Long-term assistance includes helping people get into long-term housing after being homeless including case management, budgeting and other life skills.

Street Outreach Programs/Compassion Action Network: CCU’s Street Outreach programs include several staff that work directly with people living on the street, walking alongside them to help them find and obtain long-term housing. The team leads weekly outreach efforts to those in encampments and elsewhere on the street. This team also provides leadership to the Compassion Action Network, which mobilizes volunteers and grassroots groups to work in tandem with established agencies to support our neighbors on the street. The goal is tangible support while on the street, while building relationships and working to find long-term housing and leave homelessness behind.

Susquehanna Harbor Safe Haven (SHSH): A residential facility offering long-term housing within a supportive community for up 25 formerly homeless men in Dauphin County. The program is designed to help men who are chronically homeless--those living on the street for a year or more and who are also dealing with mental illness--to get off the street. Once in a safe, stable environment, they work on goals related to income, employment, life skills, physical and mental health, and in many cases, addiction recovery.

Prison Action Ministries: A collaboration of area prison ministries working together to support those impacted by incarceration. Our efforts include a chaplain who offers spiritual guidance and assistance for male and female inmates at Dauphin County Prison. Our programs also provide spiritual support to persons in the Dauphin County Work Release Center and other reentry facilities in the local area.

Project A.S.K. (Assisting Students and Kids): Engages the local community in providing dignity and basic need support to students in the West Shore School District, including school supplies, food items and clothing items supplied to nurses offices in each of the 14 schools in WSSD. The goal is to remove barriers to success for kids in tough circumstances: to improve educational success and individual wellness.

Thank you for your support of the CCU Highmark Walk. Together we can support our neighbors facing difficult circumstances and support them on their journey toward health, wellness and long-term stability.