Samaritan Ministry was created in 1986 by 12 Episcopal churches in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to do more together than they could separately. Together, they decided to go beyond the provision of emergency assistance to people who are homeless, and others in need. Starting with one staff member, and a small group of volunteers in the basement of a church in Adams Morgan, we now provide services at three locations in the Washington area. Programs formerly run by the Episcopal Caring Response to AIDS (ECRA) were incorporated into Samaritan Ministry in November of 2000. In 2017 Samaritan Ministry integrated the STRIVE job readiness training into the Next Step Program. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation with a Board of Directors elected by representatives from our Partner Parishes. There are no religious requirements for participation in our programs. Every month, Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington (SMGW) works with more than 300 people who are homeless or otherwise disadvantaged through our innovative Next Step program. For over 30 years now, participants have been welcomed by our staff and volunteers into a safe, supportive environment that allows them the freedom to choose their own goals to pursue. They are given the resources and support they need — housing and employment search guidance, coaching, referrals to partner service providers and more — to fulfill those goals. They are listened to, and treated like family.