Are you seeking shelter?
If you are in need of shelter you must call us at 419.222.4663. Contacting us by email delays the process. We need to speak directly with the person seeking shelter. Check out our Eligibility page for details.
You Can Make A Difference
Our Mission
Restoring personal dignity and independence to homeless women
and their children by providing shelter, hope and guidance.
Who We Are
Lima’s Samaritan House has been serving homeless women and their children in Lima and Allen County since 1987. The shelter is located at 328 W. McKibben St. in Lima, Ohio and can be reached at (419) 222-4663(HOME) or samhouse@samaritanhouselima.org.
How You Can Help
We are in constant need of the support from concerned individuals who can help us continue to offer shelter to the homeless. There are many ways to help such as volunteering, offering monetary or in-kind support, or helping raise the awareness of homelessness.
What We Do
Lima’s Samaritan House is a supportive emergency shelter program designed to help women become self-sufficient. Our on-site services, along with several area social service agencies, assist each individual with housing, along with personal, educational and vocational goals.
Shelter services include one-on-one case management, meals, bathing and laundry facilities along with supportive programming that may include parenting, resume and job readiness, drug and alcohol education, budgeting, health and hygiene education, nutrition and more.
The crucial role of case management identifies and addresses the multiple challenges our women and children face on a daily basis. Guiding clients through choices and changes increases their chances to succeed and significantly reduces recidivism. Case Management also works to connect individuals with programs and resources necessary to ensure not only a successful transition, but a support system once they have moved on from the shelter.
Funding
Approximately 50% of Lima’s Samaritan House total annual budget is received from from the Ohio Development Services Agency Homeless Crisis Response Program (HCRP).
The remaining 50% of necessary funding is attained through sustained grant writing efforts, private foundations, churches, clubs, organizations, and individuals. We rely on In-Kind donations for most of the food, medicine, cleaning supplies, office supplies and household goods that we need to run the shelter. In 2023 goods valued just over $43,000 were received as In-Kind donations. Any donated items that can not be used in a timely manner at Samaritan House are passed on to other local agencies that can use the item to serve the community. Fundraising efforts are ongoing, please consider donating today!
Lima’s Samaritan House first opened its doors in 1987 to serve homeless and/or abused women and children. Since that time, we have provided shelter, hope and guidance to literally thousands who otherwise had no safe place to go. We do this by meeting their basic needs for food, clothing and shelter, along with intensive case management to help identify and overcome barriers that have kept them from permanent housing. Many are not aware of the number of women and children who may be trapped in violent relationships, sleep in abandoned buildings/cars or are forced to walk the streets. Samaritan House is a safe haven where so many have found the strength to overcome and the courage to prevail. We believe this is reason for celebration! In August, we commemorate our anniversary. We are dedicated to our service, but without the generosity of our friends in the community, we would not exist.
For many years, our Anniversary Celebration has been our sole fundraiser and a time to get together with friends, family and donors for an evening of fun. This year, the Raisin’ Bread Anniversary Celebration will take place on August 14, 2024 at the Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center. The evening includes appetizers, dueling pianos for entertainment, a silent auction and a 50/50 drawing. The proceeds from this event help to offset the operating expenses of running a three-story, thirty-eight room shelter. We hope that you can join us! If you and/or your business, group, church, club or committee would like to become a sponsor or donate an auction item, we would be grateful for your partnership.
Sponsorship and tickets may be purchased by sending in our order form.
Thank you for your continued prayers, support and encouragement. If you have any questions, please contact the shelter at 419.222.4663.