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Samaritan Shelter details services, asks city to continue annual support
Summary
A Samaritan Shelter representative told the council the shelter served dozens of people last year, runs a year-round operation and uses city support to strengthen grant applications; the group requested continued funding for its work.
A representative of the Samaritan Shelter told the Pocomoke City mayor and council that the shelter provided housing, meals and other services to dozens of people last year and asked the city to continue annual financial support.
The speaker said the shelter, in operation for about 38 years, served 48 homeless individuals in the prior year, with 46 percent of residents from Worcester County. The presenter described a small staff of five, a year-round operation, and multiple programs including a soup kitchen, residential meals and a food pantry. The shelter reported distributing 7,836 bags of food, serving 2,374 soup-kitchen meals and providing 10,881 meals in its shelter over the prior year in materials submitted to the council.
Why it matters: The presenter told the council that city support strengthens the shelter’s ability to apply for state and federal grants because municipal backing demonstrates local commitment to funders.
Services and goals: The shelter representative said staff coordinate with social services, health departments and other local agencies to help residents find housing, work and treatment services. The shelter also conducts pre-admission screening, including calls and police warrant checks, to reduce risks to the community. The speaker said the shelter’s goals for the coming year include housing more people and expanding resource and outreach events; the speaker said their mobile pantry events are held four times a year with United Way support.
Council action: No formal vote on funding was recorded at the meeting. Council members thanked the shelter and asked follow-up questions about services and partnerships.
Looking ahead: The shelter requested continued city support for the coming fiscal year and an ongoing partnership with local agencies to expand housing placements and supportive services.
