#MergerMondays: Housing Assistance
As the holiday season approaches and the nights grow colder, we’re reminded of how vital community and support are especially for those without stable housing. When organizations unite, their combined strength helps more people facing hunger and housing instability, especially during life’s hardest seasons.
In Collin County, Texas, The Samaritan Inn has acquired Community Lifeline Center’s food pantry and emergency rent and utility assistance. In 2024, the Inn served nearly 105,000 meals and snacks and provided more than 17,000 hours of direct client care. It also has shelter capacity for 226 residents. Community Lifeline Center reached an average of 150 families daily, distributing 1.23 million pounds of food in 2024 and has experienced a 28% increase in pantry visits so far in 2025. Together, they’re streamlining care under one unified system. The Samaritan Inn will now run the food pantry and emergency rent and utility assistance that Community Lifeline used to handle. This integration brings shelter, food access, case management, and financial aid together, making it easier for people to get help under one roof.
In Charleston, South Carolina, East Cooper Habitat for Humanity and Charleston Habitat for Humanity officially merged on September 1, 2025, forming a single organization under the Charleston Habitat name. Their combined efforts aim to increase their home-building output from 4 to 10 homes per year. With the merger, they now have a new headquarters and maintain both ReStore locations to reach more people. The newly consolidated organization increases capacity for building affordable homes, making critical home repairs, and lowering barriers to homeownership.
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, two faith-based nonprofits, @Friends of the Poor and @Catherine McAuley Center, have joined together. Meghan Loftus now leads as President/CEO, and Lee Termini chairs the board. With a single board and shared resources, they’re better positioned to respond to growing need. Their work now combines food security programs with housing support, streamlining their efforts to serve people experiencing hunger and homelessness. This year, their newly consolidated Thanksgiving Community Program will distribute 5,500 meals, up 1,500 from previous years.
These mergers show something beautiful: when organizations choose unity, more people win. At a time when need is rising and resources are finite, these partnerships deepen care, widen reach, and build more resilient communities. This Merger Monday, let’s celebrate the compassion behind each decision and honor the lives that will be lifted because of them.
Read more about each merger here:
https://www.herecharleston.com/charleston-habitat-merger/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
