Samaritan House
Samaritan House was founded in 1984 as a community response to help homeless families in the area. Since that time, 53 emergency shelters, transitional homes and affordable housing apartments have been created to address the needs of families victimized by homelessness and domestic violence. Samaritan House also provides an Outreach Center for those in the community who may need a confidential place for crisis intervention, supportive counseling and legal services.
Organizations Stated Mission:
To foster personal safety, self-sufficiency and personal growth in adults and their children through freedom from domestic abuse and homelessness.
Service Opportunities in the organization:
Level 0 – no direct contact with persons accessing services or if there is contact it is on a one time only basis and in the presence and under the supervision of trained staff
Training Required: No specific training is required. However, all volunteers must understand and sign the Samaritan House Confidentiality Statement.
- Shelter Maintenance – assist with cleaning and maintenance of our Safe Harbor building or any of our shelters or transitional housing units.
- Fund Raising Activity – participate in any authorized activity that would generate funds for Samaritan House.
- Collect donations – participate in the collection of items needed by Samaritan House for use by persons accessing our services.
- United Way Day of Caring
- Special Event Day worker – assist with any type of special event, planned by or for the agency. Tasks could be varied and would be determined at the time of the event.
- Program Volunteer – plan or assist with special programming for the people accessing our services, either adults or children. This would be done under the supervision of trained staff.
Level 1 – volunteers/interns who may have incidental contact with persons accessing services
Training Required: Minimum of 6 Hours
- Office Volunteer – assist in the office with any number of administrative tasks.
- Donations management – receive, sort and organize donations.
- Grocery shoppers – shop and deliver weekly supplies to shelter homes.
- Children’s Center Support – cleaning playroom, sorting and organizing toys and games, preparing crafts, bulletin boards, meals or snacks for children.
- Shelter Maintenance – maintaining the Safe Harbor building or any of our shelters on an ongoing basis. This could include cleaning, gardening or routine maintenance.
Level 2 – volunteers/interns who have some contact with persons accessing services
Training Required: Minimum of 20 Hours
- Transportation – provide transportation for individual clients or groups either to individual appointments or to group meetings. A company vehicle is provided.
- Child Care Worker – direct care and interaction with children at the Safe Harbor Center.
- Mentor – one on one interaction with pre-teens and teens who have been identified as having experienced violence in their home or who have related issues.
- Program Resource Person – offer particular skills or support to an ongoing program working with either adults or children.
- Public Awareness – community outreach on behalf of Samaritan House by providing literature and information to the public on issues of domestic violence and homelessness.
Level 3 – volunteers/interns who have ongoing contact with persons accessing services
Training Required: Minimum of 32 Hours
- Crisis Line Counselor – Answer crisis calls, access needs, offer services or resources, assist with intakes and make appropriate referrals.
- Court Companion – become familiar with domestic court procedures in order to accompany clients to court. The role is one of support not legal advisor.
- Community Education – assist Samaritan house staff by speaking in the community providing information about Samaritan house and the issue of domestic violence and homelessness.
- Children’s Programming – plan and carryout programming with children who are accessing our services.
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 2400, #226 Virginia Beach, VA 23450
Phone: (757) 631-0710
Fax: (757) 631-0747
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (757) 430-2120
www.samaritanhouseva.org
Ministry News
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