Transitions

The stress and burdens faced by homeless men and women can be crippling. The uncertainty of when their next meal might be or where they can sleep at night makes the prospect of finding employment or permanent housing nearly impossible. Transitions Homeless Center works to lessen that uncertainty by providing homeless men and women of the Midlands region of South Carolina with the stability necessary to help them move forward and ultimately transition into permanent housing.

The Transitions facility is located in downtown Columbia, SC, where they welcome about 350 adult clients daily, including their 260 residents and another 85-95 Day Center users. The day center is open to anyone in need, providing those individuals with access to showers, clothing, laundry, phones, computers, and any classes or activities offered, as well as a nutritious lunch.

Transitions’ goal is not simply providing temporary shelter. Rather they look to identify what is at the root of each individual’s struggle and create plans to overcome those obstacles and increase the likelihood of finding and maintaining permanent housing. They do that through not just addressing the immediate needs of shelter, showers, clothing, laundry, and meals, but by also enabling their clients to receive many vital support services right here on our campus. Transitions works in conjunction with 55 Partners in Excellence agencies to provide as many services as possible on-site and to ensure clients are enrolled in any social services programs for which they are eligible. Having appointments and support services on-site – including health care, mental health counseling, and job and life skills training – enables clients to receive services more quickly and improves personal accountability. They also work to address any legal issues, including hosting a city-run Homeless Court and by providing access to free legal aid resources. These partnerships are critical to making a difference in the lives of our clients, and helping them successfully change the trajectory of their lives and move from homelessness to being permanently housed in our community.