Helping Seniors Facing Homelessness: The Power of Supportive Housing
At 73, Eugene was facing homelessness with nowhere to go. His partner had recently moved into a nursing home, and without that second income, he could no longer afford their shared apartment. With winter approaching and no options in sight, Eugene was on the brink of sleeping in the cold. As soon as we received […]
Street Outreach: How We Love Our Unhoused Neighbors
All around Ephrata, there are men and women who have fallen on hard times and are now unhoused—and Katie knows each of their names. Every day as our Outreach Resource Coordinator, she is out visiting with them, checking up on them, seeing if they have any needs. This simple act shows them the dignity and […]
Short-Term Counseling at Good Sam: Building Mental Health from the Ground Up
At Good Samaritan Services, our short-term counseling program is designed to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness or housing instability begin the process of healing—by first focusing on what’s most essential. At Good Sam, we believe wellness includes every aspect of life, and want our participants to thrive in each of these 6 areas. Rooted […]
Good Sam Receives $125K PHARE Grant
We’re thrilled to share some incredible news—Good Samaritan Services has been awarded a $125,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund, managed by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA)! This grant is part of a historic $73 million investment to support 387 housing initiatives across all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. This […]
What Happens After Prison? The Link Between Incarceration and Homelessness
Those who have been in prison at least once are nearly 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general public. Read that again. The links between homelessness and incarceration are real and sobering, putting some individuals in a loop cycle that is hard to escape. Homelessness often leads to incarceration … incarceration often leads […]
Hitting a Record! The 18th Annual EPC Golf Outing Raised $40,000
You Chipped In—And It Made A Difference! Nothing could stop the fun at this year’s EPC Golf Outing. Even with hot temperatures and a chance of rain, these incredible golfers showed up, teed off, and helped us raise a record $40,000, our biggest total yet! We are so grateful for everyone who chipped in, on […]
Celebrating a New Chapter for Good Sam and PWO
Your Support Means the World! The turnout for our Merger Celebration was fantastic, and we are overflowing with gratitude because of everyone’s support. This milestone joins two organizations with the same passion—to respond compassionately to those experiencing homelessness in our community. To see so many people come together under that mission was incredible! A special thank […]
‘Good Sam Helped Me Remember that I am a Human Being’
After going through every step of our program, Jason recently accepted a position on Good Sam Staff as a house manager. His story is one of perseverance and dedication. Read it in his own words. Hello, I’m Jason, JayB for short. I was born in California, moved to Denver, and then my family made it […]
Little Chicks & BIG Conversations: Creative Therapy at Good Sam
At Good Sam, we are always looking for ways to bring creativity, safety, and connection into our approach to therapy. In recent group sessions for children in our program, our in-house licensed therapist invited a few unexpected guests into the room: live baby chicks. Yes, they were irresistibly cute—but more importantly, they sparked deep, heartfelt […]
When Women Face Homelessness
We all know the stereotype, a homeless male holding a cardboard sign on the sidewalk. But homelessness takes on many faces, often ones you wouldn’t expect. A woman living in her car, fleeing an abusive relationship. A brand-new mother staying in a hotel with nowhere to call home. An individual who lost their job due […]