Greer Shelter to Empower People
For over 20 years, Daily Bread Ministries and the Christian community have successfully operated the Greer Soup Kitchen. Our purpose is “to provide ministry in the form of services including, but not limited to, providing a soup kitchen, providing a place of refuge, and in general rendering to the needs of the destitute, desperate, and/or troubled persons.”
The Shelter to Empower People (STEP) will give people shelter and support in a structured 90-day program conducted by trained counselors working under a licensed mental health professional. To enter the program, families must be homeless, have a strong desire to not be homeless, and be recommended by an appointed commission made up of volunteer mental health professionals, licensed clergy, and the director of operations.
Meet Our Director
Beth Roberts - Director of STEP
I was born and raised in Greer, graduating from Greer High School in 1974. I obtained my BS degree in Psychology from the University of South Carolina in 1978 and attended graduate school at USC in statistics and research design. After getting married in 1983, we moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where I spent 26 years working for Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc., providing services to persons with all types of disabilities and disadvantages, with the majority of my years in rehabilitation management. I also provided extensive training in all aspects of rehabilitation and mental health services,
I was married for 30 years and sadly lost my husband in early 2018. We have 2 children - Lindsay and Mike. Lindsay moved to South Carolina in 2018, while Mike still resides in Florida with his wife and 2 children. I currently reside with my mother as her caretaker, in the home where I grew up. I have been the Director of the STEP program (the Greer Family Shelter) since January of 2018, providing intensive training to families who have experienced transitional homelessness.
Greer Shelter to Empower People
We equip people to return to the workforce and a home of their own. Our intent is not to operate a rescue mission. Participants will be required to both eat and work at Greer Soup Kitchen and attend all sessions and counseling. Our intent is to surround participants with love and encouragement in a setting with clearly communicated rules of conduct and consequences.
Volunteers are needed to participate as:
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Specialists to find and enlist volunteers from churches, businesses, and industries
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Specialists to enlist employers who will offer sustainable jobs and help participants succeed
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Facilitators who commit to work with families 5 hours a week for 90 days, including one 2 hour meeting per week, and three other touch points at any time during the week-requires 12 hours of training conducted during two weekend days
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Specialists to help participants with reading, writing skills
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Specialists to help participants prepare for job interviews
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Specialists to teach participants life skills based on Christian principles
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Specialists to help participants prepare job history info
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Employers to provide sustainable jobs with the will to help participants learn and succeed
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Specialists to help teach participants how to search for jobs
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Specialists to help participants search for affordable, safe housing
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Specialists to help participants understand the purpose, use and management of money
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Specialists who can guide people for find public assistance i.e., Medicaid, subsidized housing, food stamps, etc.
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Specialists to teach, guide participants regarding good health habits, practices, diet, etc.
Specialists listed above can give any amount of time to the program but must undergo training session on how to succeed when helping the homeless. Training sessions are scheduled as needed.
To volunteer, call 864-540-4681 and leave a message. Our staff will be in touch with you by the next weekday during normal business hours.
Families who want to apply for participation in the program should call 864-540-4681 and leave a message. A counselor will be in touch by the next weekday.
Families already in the shelter program who need assistance from the staff can text or leave a voice message at 864-540-4681. 7/24 assistance is not available.
Phone messages are checked only during normal business hours and are staffed by volunteers.