Samaritan House was conceived in the hearts and minds of Ruth Woodend and Freda Schlaman in June 2003 in response to “Living in the Shadows,” a work commissioned by the Mecklenburg County Commission to identify the needs of the homeless people living in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
Eight individuals formed a mission team in Ruth’s kitchen with soup, prayer, and sheer determination. Ruth and Freda gave the mission its name: Samaritan House.
An empty house in dire need of repair in front of the YWCA on Park Road became the perfect temporary home for Mecklenburg County’s homeless in need of recuperative care. Everything necessary to care for guests was donated by groups and individuals alike. The miracle known as Samaritan House received its first guests on March 1, 2005.
On June 14, 2011, Samaritan House moved into its new permanent home at 611 Fortune St., just off of Monroe Rd. This was possible due to the continued outpouring of compassion, dedication, care, and love from the community, as well as the financial support of the Carolinas Healthcare Foundation and the Levine Foundation, grants and donations from the faith community, corporate grants, and the generous donations of time and money from countless individual donors. On June 16, 2011 we admitted our first guest who couldn’t have managed the stairs at the old building.
We will continue to provide a permanent healing haven for those who are homeless and in need of care.
