About Us
Our Mission
To provide a safe and supportive environment for children and teens who have faced abuse, abandonment, neglect and/or homelessness.
A Growing Legacy of Care
Located in South Carolina’s capital city, Columbia, Palmetto Place was founded by the Junior Woman’s Club of Columbia in 1977 as an emergency shelter for children who needed safe haven from child abuse and neglect. Our residential home has provided wraparound support services 24/7 for the last 40+ years and more than 7,500 children have called our house their home. In 2012, we created South Carolina’s first emergency and transitional housing program for non-systems youth experiencing homelessness. In 2016 we expanded our original home adding space for more children and teens who have faced abuse and neglect. We also opened a second campus that provides housing and support to youth who are at-risk for and experiencing homelessness in the Midlands. With a total of 50 beds, Palmetto Place provides a healing environment and hope for children and youth across South Carolina.
Programs
Unaccompanied Youth Program:
Palmetto Place’s Unaccompanied Youth Program is housed in West Columbia, South Carolina and prepares youth experiencing homelessness to live independently and reach self-sufficiency. Created in 2012 as the state’s first emergency and transitional housing program for non-systems youth, we provide food, housing, clothing and wraparound services for teens ages 15-21, all genders. Teens are referred to the program by school social workers, partner agencies, and other teens. Teens participating in this program are able to set long-term goals for employment and education and learn the life skills necessary for independence. Many of these residents come to Palmetto Place as a junior or senior in high school and stay at least through high school graduation, although some residents are enrolled in college. The ultimate goal for unaccompanied youth is self-sufficiency and permanent housing in effort to break the cycle of homelessness. The Aftercare component of the UY Program provides youth who exit the housing program with up to 12 months of support. Our Special Programs Coordinator provides aftercare youth with resource navigation, housing options, and and case management.
Basic Center Program:
Palmetto Place’s Basic Center Program allows us to provide additional housing and wraparound services to minor homeless and unaccompanied teens ages 12-18. Teens in the Basic Center Program spend 21 days at the Palmetto Place’s West Columbia campus receiving crisis management, medical services, comprehensive case management, educational assistance and transitional housing options along with the creation of a safety net and support system. At the end of the 21-day assessment process, staff will be able to graduate teens to the organization’s independent living program, make referrals to mental health care facilities, and/or reunite teens with family or provide other housing options.