HOMELESS MINISTRIES

Homeless Ministries

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Matthew 25:35-36 ESV

The Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness (ARCH) counted, “…603 homeless men, women, and children in the eight counties of Eastern Tennessee. Of this, 352 were identified as being chronically homeless with 121 chronically homeless persons identified as being unsheltered.” [click here to read the study]

Good Samaritan Ministries is dedicated to serving these individuals in hopes of seeing lives changed. As well as lifting simple burdens from their shoulders we offer pray, case management, and we often see many get off the street and into homes. Listed below are some of the services we offer to the homeless specifically:

  • Daily showers/washing clothes for men. [The River is the women facility]
  • “Grab Bag” food bag.
  • Hygiene items
  • Gloves, socks, and scarves during winter.
  • Mail holding.
  • Lockers.

Social Work Case Management

The Good Samaritan Ministries social work team offers a wide variety of services to benefit guests at the Good Samaritan. We see hundreds or thousand of guest each year and work with the homeless, low-income, and people with emergency needs, in several counties in the Tri- Cities. The social work team begins with an assessment of individual needs and then the social worker and the guest develop a plan together for success.

We Work with Local Agencies

Our social workers work with local agencies such as:

  • Housing Authority
  • Social Security Administration
  • Food Stamp Program
  • Veterans Affairs
  • DMV
  • Local Churches

The social worker refers guests to local agencies for intakes. Sometimes this involves transporting the guest to the appointment, following up with a representative from the other agency and helping the guest to navigate through the inevitable paperwork that some entitlement programs require. That quickly starts the plan into motion. Together with other local agencies, we assist guests with housing, employment, photo identification, money management, and other needs based on their individual plans. It is our goal to empower, motivate and assist our guests in the direction of fulfilling their goals to be self sufficient.