From The Desk of Kathy Jenkins - July 2023

What a year! While we're just halfway through the calendar year, for New Directions, "New Year's" comes on July 1st, with the start of a new fiscal year.

When I think about this past fiscal year, the phrase that comes to mind is "record-breaking". This year, we provided over 70,991 shelter nights, more nights than any other year in our history (24% more than last fiscal year and 10% higher than our pre-covid numbers). We served over 139,927 meals to the hungry, more than double the number of meals we served last year! We served over 1,206 unduplicated individuals through our Pathways Program, not including 143 clients who stayed in our Essentials Emergency Shelter, and numerous clients served by our Walk-in Center and Community Dinner Programs. Best of all, 599 of those we served were able to secure a positive outcome to their crisis through housing, reuniting with family, or going to long-term recovery.

We were able to provide record-breaking help and hope to those in crisis in 2022-2023. But unfortunately, record-breaking help only emerges when there is record-breaking need. In 2022, 1,379 individuals were homeless in our 13 county Continuum of Care. Over 200 overdose deaths occurred in Horry County with addiction on the rise. Nearly one-fifth (19.4%) of residents in Myrtle Beach live in poverty and since the pandemic, the cost of rent has risen by over 30%, making it increasingly difficult for the most vulnerable in our community to maintain and sustain housing. As we enter a new fiscal year, more than ever, our community needs the programs and services that New Directions provides, giving them help, hope, and a way forward out of crisis and into their best life possible.

I expect that this fiscal year will be just as record-breaking as the last, but am so grateful for partners like you who make it possible for us to meet record-breaking needs with equally record-breaking impact. Thank you for your support in FY 2023! I look forward to our continued partnership in FY 2024!