Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas (LFS Carolinas) will celebrate the opening of Angels House, a new transitional housing facility for homeless female veterans in the Columbia area, Thursday, January 29 from 3:30 to 6:30 pm at 482 Robin's Egg Dr., Columbia, S.C. 29229.

South Carolina is home to more than 33,000 female veterans, but it is estimated that nearly 300 of them are homeless, many struggling with post traumatic stress disorder or other combat related illnesses. Angels House is a proactive partnership of the Veterans Administration of South Carolina and LFS Carolinas designed to provide this vulnerable population of women the necessary tools to become self- sufficient.

The two main components of the program are the provision of affordable transitional housing and the utilization of broad, community- based support services. Residents will be provided a mentor, business coach, and a connection to a faith community, who will help them find and maintain employment, learn valuable life skills such as cooking and budgeting, and provide opportunities for socialization and faith development within their community.

The home can house up to six veterans at a time, and graduation from the program is achieved when a resident has secured a place to live and obtained steady employment.

This program has captured the support of several Columbia area organizations, including the Columbia Local Organization of the South Carolina Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. Along with sponsoring the grand opening event, members of the organization will act as business coaches and mentors through their national program Women Joining Forces: Closing Ranks, Opening Doors.

Capital City Republican Women (CCRW) and the congregations of Living Springs Lutheran Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and Christ the King Lutheran Church donated several gifts along with their time and effort to help decorate and furnish the home.

Angels House will be the first transitional housing facility for homeless female veterans in South Carolina and will follow the model of LFS Carolinas' first facility for homeless male veterans, Kinard Manor located in Greenwood, S.C. Faith Farm, a facility for female veterans in Dallas, N.C., is also scheduled to open this spring.

The LFS Carolinas Partners in Hope Benefit and Grand Opening for Angels House will be held Thursday, January 29, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm at 482 Robin's Egg Dr., Columbia, S.C. 29229. This event is open to the public and gives community members an opportunity to tour the home and learn more about the Angels House Ministry.

For more information, please contact Mitzie Schafer at Mitzie.Schafer- @LFSCarolinas.org or (803) 260-6351.