Our Lady of Salem Shelter for Women

a respite for those experiencing homelessness

Our Story

Thirteen years ago, a group of faith leaders responded to a desperate need in our community — a safe place for those experiencing homelessness to stay during the coldest winter months. St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church was among the first churches to say yes. Yes, we would offer radical hospitality to those who needed it most.

And thus began our journey serving the neediest of women in Winston-Salem during the winter each year. Much has happened during the past 13 years. A non-profit organization City With Dwellings (CWD) grew out of this effort to protect the most vulnerable among us and it continues today, searching for solutions to the ever-growing number of people who have nowhere to go. Additionally, a Lutheran-Moravian church The Dwelling also sprouted from the seeds of supporting our neighbors.

During the 2023-2024 season, CWD, St. Timothy’s longstanding partner, decided it needed to focus on creating long-term solutions to homelessness. Such an immense undertaking could not coincide with the tremendous effort required to provide shelter to those experiencing homelessness each night throughout the winter.

So, we pivoted. St. Timotheans supported CWD’s White Flag Shelter, which provided meals and housing for both men and women when the temperatures dipped below 32°. And St. Timothy’s opened Saturdays at St. Timothy’s twice per month, providing 24-hour care to women in need.

And while we were grateful to continue our work with women experiencing homelessness, it was obvious that neither White Flag nor Saturdays at St. Timothy’s was enough. Our guests, many of whom have counted on St. Timothy’s since our opening, were left without the safety, warmth, and care our shelter has consistently provided. Women suffered.

As a result, we decided to fund the women's shelter ourselves and christened it Our Lady of Salem of Shelter for Women. We opened December 1, 2024, and closed February 28, 2025, serving as a beacon of light when the nights were at their longest. The 2024-2025 season presented with the largest need we have ever witnessed. Our Lady of Salem served 162 unique women, averaging 25 guests per night. It is interesting to note that as the winter progressed, the number of women we served grew. In December, the average number of guests was 20, in January it was 27, and in February it was 29.

The shelter continues to run the same as it always has with volunteers providing hospitality, meals, and to-go bags for the following day. We have tremendous support from the community. During the 2024-2025 season, 93 dinners and 2,310 to-go bags were provided by volunteers. Our dedicated volunteers performed 478 check-in shifts.

The most significant shift is that Our Lady of Salem Shelter now funds itself. Each night we pay professional monitors to keep watch over our sleeping guests so they can get the rest they so need. During the past season, the cost for monitors was $47,202 and they worked more than 2,300 hours. While our main focus is ensuring that women experiencing homelessness are treated with dignity and care during the winter months, there is a secondary benefit. Our monitor staff is composed entirely of low-income women, 99% of whom belong to a racial/ethnic minority. Most of them have experienced homelessness themselves at some point. We conducted a survey of our monitors after the conclusion of the season and 99% stated that their job at the shelter made a positive financial impact on their families; 100% noted their confidence had increased.

Last season we paid The Dwelling for check-in services, transportation of our guests to and from Augsburg Community Center, and administrative costs. Moving forward, Our Lady of Salem Shelter for Women will do its own hiring and payroll and continue to pay The Dwelling for check-in services and transportation.

Our Lady of Salem Shelter for Women is a low barrier shelter, meaning that we welcome our guests where they are. Many whom we serve are not welcome at traditional shelters due to untreated mental illness or active substance misuse. We are often the only hope for women who would otherwise spend the coldest nights of the year outside where they are terribly vulnerable. With potential cuts to housing assistance looming in the future, Our Lady is dedicated to opening this winter to provide radical hospitality and hope to those who need it the most.