New Directions
New Directions' mission is to help people recover from the crises of homelessness, poverty, and addiction by providing basic needs, connection to resources, and community support.
Address:
1005 Osceola Street
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577
Phone: 843-945-4902
New Directions
A Mission of First Presbyterian Church
New Directions (ND) was established in 2013 as a collaborative effort to better assist homeless, men, women, and families in our community by consolidating three independent local shelters into one organization and implementing a comprehensive program that directly addressed homelessness. “Back To Work, Back To Life” was established as ND’s signature program to identify underlying causes of homelessness; addiction, mental illness, legal issues, disability, transportation, etc. In 2016, ND began adding program partnerships and initiatives to address some of these top barriers. In partnership with the City of Myrtle Beach, ND added a Peer Support Program. In 2018, CCU Sociology began the Rolling Forward Project to provide free bike transportation at ND shelters. Homeless Court, a voluntary diversion program through the Myrtle Beach Municipal Court, began, holding its first session in March 2019. In 2020, ND Peer Support Program (now known as ARO) expanded to provide peer support and recovery outreach to both Horry and Georgetown Counties.
In early 2021, ND pivoted its programming to include onsite recovery solutions, which led to the development of “Pathways.” The Pathways program kept core focus of “Back To Work, Back To Life” – addressing underlying barriers of homelessness by connecting individuals with resources – but added recovery support and peer-led groups to help clients “learn how to live again.” In spring 2021, ND opened a shower and laundry facility at the Men’s shelter to serve unsheltered homeless and in early 2022 added case management there. This summer, ND extended the peer support program to the Women’s Shelter with the addition of an on-site peer support specialist. Now in the 10th fiscal year, since its founding, ND has helped over 9,104 individuals, 499 families through 513,734 nights of shelter, with 3,721 individuals, 439 families have secured a positive solution through housing, reuniting with family, or long term recovery.