Mission Statement

Hoos Against Hunger and Homelessness (HAHAH) is a Madison House program that seeks to address the issues of hunger and homelessness in Charlottesville. Through four program sites and seven programs, we provide direct assistance to families and individuals who are in need of food, educational training, companionship and child care. The idea behind Hoos Against Hunger and Homelessness is that as an organization we will help those in transitional situations help themselves. In this way, we make a pact to aid in their empowerment to choose the life that they want to live.

As a program, we will provide opportunities for students to have personal experiences with people who have food and shelter needs. Our goal is to educate through service.

"It is not optional to help others out. We have a moral obligation to aid those in our community who are in need."
Avi Garbow, Founder of A.B.L.E, now called Hoos Against Hunger and Homelessness

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History

Hoos Against Hunger and Homelessness first became a Madison House program in 1996. Before 1996, Madison House's hunger and homelessness group was ABLE. This program provided big siblings, tutors and daycare workers for The Salvation Army, volunteers for the Drop In Center and volunteers for the Food Bank. ABLE transferred from a Madison House program to a law school organization, leaving room for the creation of a new program - Hoos Against Hunger and Homelessness. The program continued its work with several of the aforementioned programs and added PACEM in 2005, the Arts Program at the HOPE Community Center in 2008 and the GED Class for the Homeless in 2009. Hoos Against Hunger and Homelessness now works with The Salvation Army, the HOPE Community Center, On Our Own Drop In Center, and People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry or PACEM.

Program Sites

Where We're Helping

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
On Our Own
PACEM
GED Class for the Homeless of Charlottesville
Salvation Army Soup Kitchen
Hope Community Center