New Directions of Horry County provides comprehensive support to men, women, and families with children experiencing homelessness, poverty, and addiction. Services include emergency shelter and basic needs. We also offer family-centered housing designed specifically for guardians and children. Each client has access to case management with connections to community resources to address barriers like employment, mental health, and addiction. New Directions’ transition shelters offers peer support, life-skills programming, and transitional housing opportunities to help individuals and families move toward stability and long-term independence.

New Directions of Horry County offers an emergency overnight shelter for men in immediate need of a safe place to stay. The shelter has 22 beds and operates on a lottery system used to fairly determine available spaces for the night. Emergency shelter begins at 8:00 p.m.. This is a short-term, overnight-only stay, designed to provide immediate relief from unsafe or unstable conditions. Sobriety is not required, ensuring accessibility for those who may not qualify for other programs.

Individual men and women do not need an ID to use shelter services at New Directions. We understand that many people experiencing homelessness may not have identification, and we do not want that to be a barrier to safety, shelter, and support.

However, for our family shelter, a valid ID is required for adults to help verify that children are with a parent or legal guardian. This policy is in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in our care.

You are not required to enter a rehab program or pass a drug test to access our emergency overnight shelter.

However, for those participating in our Pathways Program (family shelter and longer-term programming), maintaining sobriety is expected, and drug testing may be required as part of that program’s guidelines. These expectations help support long-term stability and success for individuals and families working toward permanent housing.

New Directions of Horry County is not a drug or alcohol recovery program. However, we support individuals who are seeking recovery by connecting them to local resources such as NA (Narcotics Anonymous) and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings while they stay at our shelter.

We also provide access to peer support specialists who can offer guidance, encouragement, and help navigating recovery options. For select individuals in need of long-term recovery, we may offer scholarship opportunities to partner programs to support their next steps toward sobriety and stability.

Case management is available to clients in our pathways program. Our team works one-on-one with clients to identify goals, connect them to resources, and create a plan for housing, employment, and long-term stability. We actively link clients to both local and state resources, including programs like ECHO (Eastern Carolina Housing Organization), SC Works for employment support, Waccamaw Center for Mental Health, Department of Social Services (DSS), Veterans Affairs (VA) services, and local healthcare providers. By coordinating these services, we help ensure each individual or family has access to the support they need beyond our shelter.

To access services or check availability, please call us directly at 843-945-4902. Our team can provide the most up-to-date information on bed availability, intake times, and next steps. If you are seeking emergency shelter, we recommend calling ahead when possible and arriving during intake hours.