ABOUT
The Samaritan House

The Samaritan House was established in 2001 in response to a great need in the Orangeburg area, as was evident by the use of a “shelter” that existed under deplorable conditions. After being closed for four years, The Samaritan House reopened in September 2020, under the guidance of the Board of Directors and the direction of Henry Miller, Executive Director.

While the vision of The Samaritan House leadership is that everyone has a safe place to live, we recognize that Orangeburg and The Samaritan House will need to work with determination and diligence to bring that vision to reality.

As the county grows, so does the population of people needing affordable living options. The Samaritan House stands ready to welcome as many as they can and will continue to work with others to seek solutions for the growing need. The shelter has a current capacity of 40 residents, including men, women, and their children.

With the previous four years focused on getting the facility running and coordinating the various programs needed to support the residents, The Samaritan House leadership is committed to taking the necessary steps to move toward our vision.

To prepare for the expansion and scale appropriately to the ultimate vision for everyone to be safely sheltered, The Samaritan House has embarked on a strategic planning process to discover how best to collaborate within the community and to coordinate efforts whenever and wherever possible.

The Samaritan House leadership held a community meeting recently where service and housing agencies, elected officials, mental health, vocational rehabilitation, department of social services, alcohol and drug, other government officials, organizations, and local citizens, met to discuss forming a Coalition for the Homeless for Orangeburg County to address service needs and housing issues.

The Samaritan House leadership met with the City Administrator and presented a budget request for funds to replace old beds and to acquire addittional beds. If the funds are granted this will expand our capacity to 55 available beds. Leadership also met with Senator Brad Hutto seeking funds through the South Carolina Legislative process to renovate and expand the facility's kitchen and dining areas to align with the potential growth. The Facilites Committee is working with an architect to draw up plans for kitchen/dining expansion. The committee is also preparing a Case Statement supporting the expansion for Senator Hutto's presentation to be included in the State's budget in January 2024.

We recognize that it is now time to create policies and procedures to ensure the long-term, sustainable viability and expansion of The Samaritan House and comprehensive services for the unhoused in Orangeburg and the Tri-County area.

To that end, The Samaritan House leadership has re-affirmed its vision, and its mission to offer people experiencing homelessness shelter and resources to secure housing. While our Growth in Community Committee continues to explore the options for collaboration and serving the unhoused beyond the walls of the current shelter location, the goals and objectives outlined in this document will create a solid foundation from which further growth will be possible.