CRISIS MINISTRIES BECOMES ONE-EIGHTY PLACE TO REFLECT EXPANDED ROLE

When Crisis Ministries opened its doors thirty years ago as a basic shelter and soup kitchen, few could have imagined its current offerings: two locations in Charleston and Summerville provide health services, counseling, legal assistance and job training for homeless individuals, Veterans and families.

In order to reflect that evolution of services, the organization has adopted a new name – One-Eighty Place – which it introduced to the public today. As the largest homeless service provider in the state, One-Eighty Place has served nearly 2 million meals and sheltered almost 40,000 individuals over the years; it has helped more than 8,000 homeless men and women achieve self-sufficiency.

“We feel the new name – One-Eighty Place - best represents all that we do to help people turn their lives around and begin again,” said Board Chair, Paul Kohlheim. Kohlheim noted that the renaming occurred as part of a strategic planning initiative begun last year by the organization’s board of directors.

“Over the years, it has become increasingly challenging for our former name to encompass all we do for our guests,” Kohlheim continued. “What was once a small, emergency shelter has grown into a comprehensive service organization that helps people change their lives. We help them complete a 180-degree transformation.”

The new name is but one of a number of changes occurring this year. One-Eighty Place will open a new facility in the fall, which will offer a healthy, light-filled space for the community kitchen, men’s dormitory, health clinic, Veterans’ housing and additional services.