THATCHER — The Gila Valley Samaritan Home is now a reality.
The Gila Valley Ministerial Association has been working for years to develop a respite and information center for the area’s homeless, and the facility is officially open and operating thanks to receiving approval of its nonprofit status last Friday.
“We actually now have full capability of assessing an individual’s needs, anywhere in Graham or Greenlee counties, to be able to set them up with permanent housing,” said Vaughn Grant with the Ministerial Association.
Grant added that, as of January, Samaritan Home will also be able to place homeless individuals in temporary housing on an emergency basis.
During a presentation before the Thatcher Town Council on Monday, Grant said the organization will be financially self-sufficient in 2024, thanks to donation of the property, the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona paying 75 percent of salaries, grants and state funding opportunities, funding from Graham County, the City of Safford providing utility service, and the ability to receive state tax-credit applicable donations as a qualified nonprofit organization.
However, Samaritan Home will be asking for a small amount of funding from Pima and Thatcher to help with operational costs for 2023.
Grant said 16 different churches in the Gila Valley have been involved in development of the facility.
Gila Valley Samaritan Home is located at 114 W. 5th St. in Safford. An open house for the public is Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 4-6 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting at 5:30 p.m.
