Family Shelter Celebrates 30th Anniversary

30 years of giving hope to homeless families will be celebrated with Brews, Bluegrass, & BBQ event

COLUMBIA, SC – November 10, 2009 – Family Shelter is a private, non-profit agency that was established in 1979 to provide emergency shelter, resources, and hope to homeless children and their families. While there are shelters for victims of domestic violence and women with children in Columbia, Family Shelter is the only emergency shelter in the area exclusively for families with various circumstances.

Brews, Bluegrass, & BBQ, an evening of food, music, and charity will be held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Thursday, November 12th, 5:30pm-9:00pm. Tickets are $30 and the event features beer, wine, and barbeque to accompany the music of Papa String Band and Black Water. There will also be door prizes and a photo exhibit on homeless children titled Coming Through Together- Our Images and Our Stories. All proceeds will benefit Family Shelter.

In 2008, Family Shelter received 745 requests for assistance from homeless families but was only able to serve 97 families due to lack of resources. This included 106 adults, 179 children, and 19 women who were pregnant. Family Shelter capacity is 15 emergency rooms (on site), 8 agency-subsidized apartments (on site), and 20 HUD-subsidized apartments in the community for families with disabilities.

The National Center on Family Homelessness estimates that there are approximately 1.5 million homeless children in the United States and homeless families make up 34% of the homeless population. Additionally, The National Coalition for the Homeless reports that families are one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population in the United States and approximately half of homeless children are under the age of five.

Last year in Columbia, Richland School District One identified 1,027 homeless students attending their schools and the State Department of Education identified 8,738 homeless students in schools across the state. Based on test scores, The National Center on Family Homelessness estimates that the high school graduation rate for homeless children in South Carolina is less than 25%.

Government grants, United Way, and Nord Family Foundation help fund a substantial amount of costs for Family Shelter, but the majority of funding comes from local individuals, churches, and corporations. Family Shelter provides the following services: emergency shelter, meals, counseling, budgeting, telephone, internet, mailbox, laundry, baby supplies, hygiene items, bus tickets, clothing, medicine, childcare assistance, rental assistance, and transitional housing.

I now have confidence in my abilities and am able to build a firm foundation for my family’s future. The Family Shelter has such a tremendous impact on people becoming self sufficient, that they, in turn become productive members of society. I am living testimony to this. I currently work, and I am completing courses to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and my daughter is an advanced student and accelerated reader in the first grade. I know, without a doubt, that this has been possible because of my will and the Family Shelter’s ability to make a way.  -Housing Program Resident