Person Centered Housing Options holds inaugural gala

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — An organization working to get Rochester’s homeless off the streets held its inaugural gala Friday night.

Person Centered Housing Options is the organization that people, police agencies and municipalities call when they’re trying to help those without a place to go.

PCHO workers provide supplies and food to the homeless initially in hopes of building trust in order to provide more long-term help.

"If you don’t have a relationship with that person," Outreach Specialist Maggie Rosen said. "If they trust you, if you don’t have a good rapport I would even say a friendship sometimes, you probably won’t get them housed."

PCHO caseworkers have placed hundreds of people.

Friday night’s gala and auction was about fundraising, outreach, next steps and saying thank you to workers, volunteers and sponsors.