Through the ups and downs, Good Samaritan has never stopped providing assistance to those who are in need in our community. How? Our staff! They’ve come to us from various backgrounds and all walks of life, each with their own individual purposes, wanting to be part of Good Samaritan. They exhibit commitment, passion, and desire to live their lives in service to others and they do so with integrity and heart.
click the link to view our full annual report
The City of Helena/Capital Transit resumed service on Capital Transit’s Red and Blue fixed-route buses on Monday, June 1. This change in service coincides with the Governor’s order moving the State to Phase 2 of the State of Montana COVID-19 Recovery Plan. Please find details and requirements for Capital Transit services below.
http://www.ridethecapitalt.org/health-and-safety-update-for-the-ridership-of-capital-transit-city-of-helena-bus-services/
Independent Record
Please Publish: August 23, 30, 2020
Contact: Ann McCauley, Lewis and Clark County Grants Administrator
(406) 447-8383
Bill to: Good Samaritan Ministries
Good Samaritan Ministries/Lewis and Clark County Public Meeting
Lewis and Clark County is sponsoring a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for funding improvements to the Good Samaritan Ministries building located at 3067 North Montana, Helena, Montana. Improvements include repair to the facility’s roof. The Preliminary Architectural Report being prepared will also consider future interior upgrades to make the building more efficient
and address potential safety issues. The meeting will be held via Zoom with a brief presentation on the project and potential funding. Participants will be given an opportunity to comment. The video call will be held at noon on Thursday, September 3, 2020 at 12:00 pm. To join the meeting please use the following instructions:
Video call link: https://zoom.us/j/98318053443
Call In: (253) 215-8782
Meeting ID: 983 1805 3443#
Watch the Lewis and Clark County and Good Samaritan website and Facebook page for additional information on the project.
Website: www.lccountymt.gov/cdp/grants-program.html or www.goodsamhelena.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LCCoGovernment or www.facebook.com/goodsamhelena
Written comments are encouraged and should be mailed to Robie Culver, Grant Writer, Stahly Engineering & Associates, 3530 Centennial Drive, Helena, MT 59601 or emailed to [email protected] on or before September 9, 2020.
For further information please contact Ann McCauley, Lewis and Clark County, (406) 447-8383; Robie Culver, Stahly Engineering, (406) 442-8594; or Theresa Ortega, Good Samaritan, (406) 442-0780.
Good Samaritan’s Assistance Ministry was working with a young man who was in such a desperate situation, no home, no money, no sense of security, such a fear of the future that he didn’t know how or if he even wanted to live anymore. Good Samaritan helped him with a bus ticket to Butte where he was able to get stable housing and start a new life. He recently was in contact with our Assistance Coordinator and told her how he wakes up grateful every day now instead of wanting to die.
The young man was so thankful for the help from Good Samaritan Ministries that he came back and donated to the Assistance Ministry to show his gratitude for the new life he has built for himself.
His story is a great example of how Good Samaritan gives people a hand up not a handout in order for them to succeed in life.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues various support systems have been implemented to help people make it through this crisis. Even with the numerous grants and other programs, no system is perfect and some in need have been left without support.
Good Samaritan Ministries in Helena has been there to catch people who fell through the cracks in the system and help them avoid crisis, including those they employ.
Marvin Colman manages Our Place, a drop-in center overseen by Good Samaritan that provides a place for people dealing with mental health challenges, homelessness or other struggles find support.
The pandemic caused Colman and his family to need the same type of support.
“When the shutdown first happened, there was just so much need in the community we couldn’t close. So we laid off our employees, I stayed working 25 to 30 hours a week,” said Colman.
Colman spent the beginning of the pandemic mainly delivering food and groceries to people who couldn’t pick it up themselves.
By working that much, although reduced, Colman didn’t qualify for unemployment benefits. He’s also a student right now, which means he didn’t qualify for the federal stimulus money.
“Then the avalanche started where I just couldn’t pay everything each month, and eventually got to the point where I was so far behind I had to make the decision of do I keep the power on or do I pay the rent,” explained Colman.
Colman helps hundreds of people each week with finding housing, job services, peer support rides and food delivery. Yet he himself still struggled with admitting he needed help.
“It’s unfortunately part of our culture and so that’s where I found myself, even though I am a hard worker,” Colman said. “It was a little humbling at first, but then I thought ‘this happened, it was beyond your control, go ask!’ which was the hardest thing to do.”
Good Samaritan’s assistance ministries were able to help Colman with his rent, and began getting out of the ever deepening hole he had found himself in.
“Once I got my rent paid I could focus on all of the other bills coming in,” Colman said. “It gave me a month to get back on my feet. Then we opened, my hours went back to normal and I’m slowly digging out.”
Colman’s story is similar to the hundreds of families Good Samaritan helps every week. Most found themselves in mounting debt due to unforeseen circumstances.
Executive Director Theresa Ortega says the COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for the organization, but one they’re adapting to.
“Even though our Thrift Store had closed, our Assistance Ministry never stopped,” said Ortega. “We provided services online to get people connected with different agencies to arrange for a place to stay or what their needs were.”
Good Samaritan can assist people with childcare, vehicle repair, dental, household items, toiletries and more.
The nonprofit was able to meet those needs during the pandemic thanks to the Paycheck Protection Program from SBA, and a $10,000 COVID Relief grant from the State of Montana.
The parable of the Good Samaritan tells the story of a man giving aid to someone in need, and expecting nothing in return.
Ortega says they will continue to live up to their namesake and help all in need they can, even long after the pandemic has passed.
“We like to follow our services to serve the most in need throughout our community, the whole aspect of that. Those usually are the people that are ill, or downtrodden or homeless and we’ll keep going no matter what,” said Ortega.
The Good Samaritan Thrift Store is back up to their regular hours,and accepting donation on Tuesdays, Tuesdays and Saturdays.
More information about the services Good Samaritan Ministries provides, and how to support their mission can be found here.
Emergency housing assistance is also avalible through the State COVID Relief Fund. More information and how to apply can be found here.
Good Samaritan’s Assistance Ministry was working with a young man who was in such a desperate situation, no home, no money, no sense of security, such a fear of the future that he didn’t know how or if he even wanted to live anymore. Good Samaritan helped him with a bus ticket to Butte where he was able to get stable housing and start a new life.
He recently was in contact with our Assistance Coordinator and told her how he wakes up grateful every day now instead of wanting to die. The young man was so thankful for the help from Good Samaritan Ministries that he came back and donated to the Assistance Ministry to show his gratitude for the new life he has built for himself. His story is a great example of how Good Samaritan gives people a hand up not a handout in order for them to succeed in life.
A client came into Our Place in desperate need, he talked with Peer Support about needing help with his Alcohol and drug problem. The man wanted information on Alcoholics Anonymous and felt this would be a good solution for his alcohol and drug problem. Our Peer Support talked with the client about his drug and alcohol history. He shared that he is over 40 years old and started drinking when he was 13 years old then started using other substances shortly after that. He shared that he consumes large quantities of alcohol and whatever else was available.
Peer Support talked with the young man about the dangers of coming off alcohol and talked with him about going into detox, then into treatment to help him in his journey.
A few days later he was accepted into Rim Rock Treatment Center for a 5 day treatment program on 7-08-2020 he was provided transportation to RimRock and discharged on 7-14-2020. Marvin Coleman, the manager of Our Place, picked him up from treatment for continuity of services and to help with a warm cross over back to the community.
While he was at treatment Our Place Peer Support staff worked on finding him a housing placement to help prevent the cycle of homelessness and drug and alcohol relapse., Upon his release from treatment, Marvin worked with him to set up a recovery plan. He will participate at Our Place every day to help with avoiding isolation, he will work with Peer Support from Instar Community service and participate in AA meetings, he will continue with his breathalyzers and continue to work with Pretrial services. He will be staying at God’s Love until another housing option is available. Because of his continuing dedication to his recovery plan he was recently accepted into a sober transitional housing on 7-31-2020.
Congratulations TK
We are with you all the way!!!
A young lady came to Our Place in need of help, this young lady has struggled with mental health and drug addiction since she was 11 years old. This young lady is making serious decisions with her life, she is six months pregnant and plans on giving the baby up for adoption, she has decided her sobriety is critical for survival. The next struggles are conquering homelessness, and to retain employment.
How do you manage in the world, you do not!
This is where you, our donor comes into changing lives.
The day we met she had been “clean for 60 days” but the struggle and torment to refuse drugs was excruciating as was her mental health. We connected her with Marvin Coleman, our case manager. He gave her time for her future…help with a resume, job applications, transportation, referral to housing, a food stamp application, Medicaid which were all approved the same day. He moved mountains for her that day.
He then helped her with a Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher application, she was approved and found a home within two weeks, and a job! Staff worked with her for the sustainability of her home and job that both are in walking distance.
Today…
120 days off all street drugs, participating in Narcotics Anonymous, established medical care with an OBGYN, and mental health treatment. She stays in contact with her support system at Our Place on a weekly basis.
We are so proud of this young woman and her life today, but her success is because of you and the fact that you care!
A young lady came to Our Place in need of help, this young lady has struggled with mental health and drug addiction since she was 11 years old. This young lady is making serious decisions with her life, she is six months pregnant and plans on giving the baby up for adoption, she has decided her sobriety is critical for survival. The next struggles are conquering homelessness, and to retain employment.
How do you manage in the world, you do not!
This is where you, our donor comes into changing lives.
The day we met she had been “clean for 60 days” but the struggle and torment to refuse drugs was excruciating as was her mental health. We connected her with Marvin Coleman, our case manager. He gave her time for her future…help with a resume, job applications, transportation, referral to housing, a food stamp application, Medicaid which were all approved the same day. He moved mountains for her that day.
He then helped her with a Permanent Supportive Housing Voucher application, she was approved and found a home within two weeks, and a job! Staff worked with her for the sustainability of her home and job that both are in walking distance.
Today…
120 days off all street drugs, participating in Narcotics Anonymous, established medical care with an OBGYN, and mental health treatment. She stays in contact with her support system at Our Place on a weekly basis.
We are so proud of this young woman and her life today, but her success is because of you and the fact that you care!
