Not long ago, Courtney and her 3-year-old daughter, Cherish, found themselves struggling to find a place to live. A single mom with a full-time job and daughter in day care, Courtney stressed about finding affordable housing and was falling behind on bills.

She turned to Good Samaritan Services, a non-profit organization which works to help individuals struggling with homelessness in Lancaster County. The organization helped Courtney and Cherish find the right fit for their needs.

With funds from a WellSpan Inspire Grant, Good Samaritan Services recently renovated one of its office buildings to open a new short-term housing facility in Lancaster City. Courtney and Cherish were the first to move into their new home.

Last year, WellSpan invested more than $450,000 in grants to address housing issues.

“When we support these important projects, it aligns with our mission and values and helps improve the overall health of our communities,” says Stephanie Voight, WellSpan director of community health.

Being homeless is a predictor of an individual’s overall health. Individuals experiencing homelessness have a higher risk of chronic disease and mental illness. Spending the night outside in colder weather can also increase the risk of hypothermia, frostbite and respiratory issues. 

“Focusing on housing insecurity is crucial for creating communities where everyone can thrive,” says Stephanie. “WellSpan understands the concern of housing and need for collaborative solutions and intends to remain a committed partner in addressing this need across the region.”

Nate Hoffer, CEO of Good Samaritan Services, and his team appreciate WellSpan’s support of their services. He believes that the renovation wouldn’t have been possible without the grant the organization received.

“WellSpan has always been a valued and trusted partner,” says Nate. “Well beyond the financial impact, it means so much to know that a highly reputable entity believes in our work. The support really helps to fuel our progress to decrease homelessness.”

The impact on the community

Good Samaritan Services supports up to 300 individuals daily across their 15 properties used for emergency and short-term housing in Ephrata and Lancaster City, as well as Phoenixville, Coatesville and Kennett Square in Chester County.

With the number of individuals living in shelters and on the streets continuing to grow in Lancaster County, Nate and his team aim to support individuals’ transition into society by providing life skills and job development training programs.

“When people enter our program, they can be experiencing multiple crises – housing, employment, transportation or relationships,” says Nate. “All of our work helps them with stability and eventually becoming housed and employed. We track how people are moving towards that stability and that’s how they graduate from the program.”

The new short-term housing facility can accommodate 10 to 12 individuals at a time for emergency housing on the second and third floors, with easy access to staff support on the first floor. This includes resource coordinators, who meet with residents one-on-one to address the root causes of homelessness, assist in finding employment and financial stability and secure access to affordable housing. A licensed therapist is also available, providing free mental health care to residents as they navigate their path toward stability.

After moving to the new housing in Lancaster City, Courtney now lives closer to her job and Cherish’s daycare and can spend less time commuting and more time with her daughter.

From left, Hannah Miller, chief program & impact officer at Good Samaritan Services; Christy Hambrick, director of programs at Good Samaritan Services in Lancaster County; Courtney and her daughter, Cherish.

“Good Sam Services has gone out of their way to make sure I have everything I need and more,” says Courtney. “The opportunities I’ve received are truly a blessing. They helped keep me going when I could have quit and I’m so grateful for their support. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can breathe.”

Good Samaritan Services’ short-term housing is one of 11 WellSpan Inspire Grant recipients awarded last month. More than $244,000 was awarded to community partners, whose projects align with our initiatives. Learn more about how we support our communities here.