Since l979,Farnily Shelter has been providing emergency food and shelter, counseling, resources, and most importantly, hope to homeless children and their parents in the Midlands area. Services provided include shelter, meals, clothing, bus tickets, rent assistance, child care assistance, housing and employment search, telephone, internet, mail,laundry, medicine, diapers, formula, and basic necessities. The Family Shelter campus consists of two dormitory buildings, a dining hall, an office building, and playground. The shelter can house up to 15 familiesat a time and the families stay for a maximum of 90 days. In2010, Family Shelter provided emergency shelter to 140 families, but received 1,005 requests for assistance from families in crisis. Families come to the shelter for a variety of reasons, including domestic violence, and Family Shelter is the only shelter in Columbia that will accept couples and men with childr.n. 'ih. shelter is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors and supported by grants, fundraising activities, and contributions from individuals, corporations, and congregations.
