Why Support Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington (SMGW)?

September 2008

The Issues

According to The National Low Income Housing Coalition, Washington, D.C. is the least affordable city within the United States in which to live. (Out of Reach).
More than 12,000 people in the D.C. Metropolitan area are homeless this year. This total includes only people who are living on the streets, staying in shelters, or living in transitional housing.
A worker earning minimum wage ($7.55/hour in D.C.) has to work approximately 135 hours per week in order to afford the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment in our area.
It is estimated that one out of every 20 residents in Washington D.C. is HIV-positive. Close to 45% of those infected are women, many of them with children.

The Solution

Samaritan Ministry’s Next Step program provides employment, and social services, as well as HIV/AIDS services to low-income, previously incarcerated, and homeless individuals, victims of abuse, and others in need. Samaritan Ministry’s HIV/AIDS spiritual retreats emphasize community-building, facilitate recovery from addictions, and help to prevent behaviors leading to infection of others

You are part of the solution - SMGW is a shared ministry of more then 45 Episcopal and other partner parishes working together. Samaritan Ministry’s mission is not only to help individuals who are homeless and in need but also to provide meaningful volunteer experiences for parishioners.

2007 Results

Employment and Social Services participants 1,113
New Employment and Social Services participants 486
Employment and Social Services Next Steps Set 7,989
Employment and Social Services Next Steps Completed 5,073 (63 %)
Total Employment and Social Services office visits 6,926

Over 3,000 volunteers (many from local Parishes) filled volunteer positions, including front office coordinator, clothing/food sorter, resume writer, and case worker
An additional 300 participants received HIV/AIDS services.

How will our Parish Contribution Help?

Samaritan Ministry could not survive without the support of our Partner Parishes. SMGW has over 40 Partner Parishes that provide a variety of resources, including “in-kind” gifts, volunteers, Board leadership, and financial support. Our Partner Parishes help “keep the lights on”, provide reduced rent for our offices, enable us to assist our program participants with direct program expenses – such as transportation assistance and clothing for job interviews, hygiene and food products, and the funding of employment related necessities such as purchasing identification cards and police clearances.

$1,500 will allow us to provide 15 months of unlimited internet access for participants at two of our offices.

$3,000 will provide office visits with a trained caseworker for over 250 participants.

$6,000 will provide heat, electricity, and water at one of our offices for 16 months.

$15,000 will cover most of the annual rent for one of our offices.