HOW WE BEGAN

In 2002-2003, Ruth Woodend began studying spiritual formation with the Servant Leadership School in Charlotte, NC. The course was formulated by The Church of the Savior in Washington,  D.C. During this nine month course of study, students look within to find and identify their spirituality and then look outside of themselves to determine how this spirituality can be used to help others. 

In May 2003, the question was asked of the group, “if money were no object what would you do?” Without thinking, Ruth replied, “I would find a four bedroom house and take in the homeless who need a place to recover from a hospital stay.” Freda Schlaman, who had taken the course in 2001-2002 was present at this meeting. Freda and Ruth met the next week at Urban Ministry Center and Freda said she too had a great concern for those experiencing homelessness who had been in the hospital. 

They met every week, sometimes twice a week to pray and to talk about how this mission could become real. In August, 2003 the two women went to Washington, D.C. to visit The Church of the Savior. This church is made up of a number of missions, all of which were started by people who saw a need and acted to address the need. Ruth and Freda were encouraged by the church members and were given lots of good advice and prayer. They then determined that God was calling them to begin a mission in Charlotte.

The first step was to invite people who might be interested to a “Come and See” soup supper at Ruth’s home. E-mails went to all who had been a part of Servant Leadership and to volunteers from the Urban Ministry Center where both Ruth and Freda were counselors. Twelve people came to the first meeting. From that group a mission team was formed of eight people. The mission team met regularly to pray, eat soup and determine a course of action. Ruth and Freda gave the mission its name, Samaritan House and then proceeded to incorporate. 

Next, Samaritan House had to become 501(c)3 eligible. This was a very slow process, however, after a few months and many phone calls to the IRS, Samaritan House became an official 501(c)3 charity.

Mac McGee, a member of the mission team, began the process of working with the city to determine how Samaritan House would be zoned. It was soon discovered that the mission did not fit into any of the current zoning areas. Mac, Ruth and Freda met with planning and zoning staff to write a text amendment. When that was completed the amendment went to Planning and Commission and then to the City Council for approval. 

The mission team formed a Board of Directors who met for the first time on January 14, 2004 and wrote the bi-laws. 

Through a lot of effort, enough money was raised and it was time to find a facility. Jane Burts, Board President was at a meeting where she heard of a house that the YWCA owned that was empty. Jane and Ruth went to see the house that afternoon and realized even though the house was in disrepair, that it would be a perfect "Samaritan House".

While Tyler 2 Construction was working at the YWCA, two of the managers came to the house to see what we were doing. After hearing about the mission, they immediately said they could do the renovations. The Charlotte Dilworth South End Rotary Club decided they would furnish the house as well as paint the bedrooms and clean. These two miracles allowed Samaritan House to open on March 1, 2005. 

After six years, Samaritan House was recognized by the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council as a unique respite care program. In June 2011, we moved into our current facility at 611 Fortune St.