About CCJ
Awards
We received the “Innovation in Housing” award from the Arizona Housing Coalition in 2019.
Innovations in Housing Annual Award is presented to one organization that is supplying housing for those transitioning out of homelessness through creative and innovative methods. The honor is given at the statewide conference luncheon. CCJ was nominated by US Vets Executive Director, Carole Benedict.
Our History
In 2000, the staff of Prescott United Methodist Church found themselves spending a great deal of time counseling with homeless and low income residents, offering meal vouchers for the local Apple Pan Restaurant, and using a portion of their discretionary funds for gas vouchers. All three ministers felt someone needed to do more.
The PUMC Church and Society Committee was tasked to organize what became the Interfaith Coalition for Compassion and Justice, or ICCJ (now simply CCJ). Several local congregations helped create the organization, including:
- Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church
- Prescott United Methodist Church
- American Lutheran Church
- First Baptist Church
- The Christian Science Church
- Trinity Presbyterian Church
- Open Door (then a program of PUMC)
- Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
- Temple B’rith Shalom
- The Center for Spiritual Living
- St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
- First Church of the Nazarene
- Prescott Community Church RCA
- People Who Care
Papers of incorporation were officially filed on November 1, 2001. The first program of ICCJ was Home Repair, an outgrowth of needs seen by Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Home Repair volunteers provided health and safety home repairs to low-income homeowners. ICCJ’s first grant was from Yavapai County Community Foundation for Home Repair on July 24, 2002.
In 2005, ICCJ was shortened to CCJ, the Coalition for Compassion and Justice. While CCJ has no religious affiliation, the organization has strong ties to both religious and non-religious-affiliated groups.
Circles of Support became the third program of CCJ in 2005. Trained mentors began to help families on a personal level. Circles of Support is now being updated to include more work with low-income families with children.
In 2010, CCJ launched the CCJ Thrift Shop in an effort to help fund the organization while furthering its poverty-relief mission.
Many good people have contributed to the success of CCJ. Little did the earliest participants know CCJ would grow as it has, thanks to fine leadership and community-wide support.
Contribute to CCJ
We rely on the generous donations from our community to accomplish our goals at CCJ.
If you would like to donate there are multiple ways you can.