A Way Home is providing options for churches to help homeless families. (South Carolina Advocate Photo)
South Carolina Advocate | Nov. 28, 2025
SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Churches in South Carolina’s Upstate are working together to open their doors and their hearts to families experiencing homelessness in Spartanburg County, and it’s transforming members of one host—St. Paul United Methodist Church.
Called A Way Home, the newly launched program provides short-term shelter and support, helping families move from crisis to stability through safe shelter, daily support and case management services.
A Way Home is operated by A Place to Call Home, a countywide initiative and collaborative effort to end homelessness and housing instability, in partnership with The Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty.
Families who meet eligibility criteria rotate from church to church, staying a week at a time at one church. While staying at the church, they are provided with meals, a safe and clean place to sleep, tutoring assistance for the children and ongoing help to achieve goals such as reliable transportation, employment, financial stability, etc.
St. Paul United Methodist Church, Spartanburg, is one of the congregations involved with A Way Home.
Carol Mabry, a St. Paul member who serves as their point person with the ministry, said being involved with the program has been a blessing for their church.
“We are grateful to have this unique opportunity to show God’s love to our neighbors who need it the very most,” Mabry said. “They are hungry, they are thirsty, they have no acceptable place to live and don’t have even the barest necessities to thrive. These families can be found living in cars, in substandard housing, unsafe trailer parks or couch surfing, staying with family or friends when they can.
“These are families who are in chronic crisis and are suffering undue stress and worry. And these are our neighbors, right here in our community.”
Mabry said that when St. Paul members heard about the opportunity to help, no one hesitated. Even more exciting, she said, is that since A Way Home began about five months ago, four families have completed the program and are now living in permanent housing.
“They each have found a way home—a tremendous victory!” Mabry said. ”Every volunteer at our church has contributed to this outcome, whether preparing a meal, serving as an overnight host, setting up and breaking down rooms and interacting with children and parents. Families have moved from chronic crisis to actual stability. It has been a great success, and we at St. Paul are proud to serve as a host church for the AWH program.”
St. Paul member Paige Candler said she decided to participate because the guests who are served in this program may be “the least of these” that Jesus spoke of.
“I feel uplifted knowing that St. Paul is making a big difference in the lives of the homeless families that we serve and that I had a small part in that service,” Candler said.
Member Chris Boyett participates to try to provide “a small portion of help” in the lives of fellow community members.
“Life is difficult. I can’t imagine someone having to deal with the uncertainty of if they will have shelter for the evening or if they’ll be able to eat that day and what will they be able to provide for their child or children under that type of stress. It’s difficult enough to weather the unexpected storms of life and it’s our most vulnerable that suffer the most in these times,” Boyett said. “Many small portions of help can make a huge difference in the lives of families.”
Susan Owens said that as an overnight host for A Way Home, she has the privilege of welcoming guest families during one of the most challenging volunteer shifts to fill.
“Meeting these families, especially the children and teens, is always a rewarding experience. I enjoy engaging with them, listening to their stories and sharing moments of joy,” Owens said. “Additionally, interacting with guests from diverse backgrounds has expanded my perspective and increased my empathy. For example, hearing about the different journeys that brought each family to A Way Home emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone who walks through our doors.”
One child, who was a guest at St. Paul through A Way Home, commented, “The people were very nice” and “they made me feel good.”
Another said, “The snacks and food were the best!”
One single mom shared at the end of her family’s stay during the summer, “We go from church to church, and we don’t know how people will be. Every person I met at St. Paul was wonderful to us. The volunteers were very involved. We were provided comfort, and you all remembered the little things. We didn’t have to ask for anything. You kept your word and paid attention to our needs. You heard us, you listened to us and you saw us.”
For more about A Way Home or to get involved, visit https://www.aptchspartanburg.org/a-way-home.
Jessica Brodie is editor of the South Carolina Advocate, the news journal of the South Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Chris Boyett and Carol Mabry contributed to this article.