COLUMBIA, SC -- A Columbia homeless shelter aiming to move clients to permanent housing, celebrated its one year anniversary Friday.
The Transitions shelter opened its doors to the public for a tour of the building. There was also a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the walkway with donors names on it.
The shelter uses different strategies and types of housing to help individuals. They are also enrolled in various services to improve their lives.
In its first year, Transitions provided housing for over 1,000 people. Many of them have left and have become productive members of the community, according to former Chairperson Cathy Novinger.
"The real difference is not the people who walk in the doors, it is the people who walk out our doors. They come in distraught and with little hope. And they leave with skills to get a job. People who come in hopeless, but they leave full of hope."
Officials say they have seen 173 clients move into permanent housing and over 200 have a stable income now. More than 500, are in a more positive living situation then they were in before.
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