The mission of Meg’s House is to provide housing and supportive services that reduce the impact of domestic violence and chronic homelessness in the communities we serve.
Meg’s House has been incorporated by the state of South Carolina as a not-for-profit organization since 1990. The organization’s 24/7 toll free hotline utilizes trained advocates to respond to calls. The organization’s service area is Greenwood, Edgefield, and McCormick counties.
The organizational structure includes a Board of Directors, an Executive Director, a Director of Finance, Director of Housing, and staff that are certified as victim service providers.
Domestic violence (DV) is a leading cause of homelessness for women and children, and the need for safe and affordable housing is one of the most pressing concerns for survivors of violence and abuse. For instance, 80% of women with children experiencing homelessness have also experienced domestic violence (Aratani, Y., 2010). Additionally, 57% of all women experiencing homelessness report domestic violence as the immediate cause of their homelessness (National Center for Homelessness & Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians’ Network (2019).
Meg’s House responds to the emotional and physical needs of those experiencing domestic violence by providing shelter, transitional housing options, food, legal advocacy, and counseling services. Meg’s House responds to primary and secondary victims of crime and those experiencing homelessness to stabilize their lives by providing assistance to gain long-term permanent housing and employment skills training. Meg’s House partners with other local non-profits to assists those experiencing domestic violence and homelessness to regain control of their lives through supportive services and referrals.
Domestic Violence Facts:
SC currently ranks 6th in the nation for women killed by an intimate partner (Violence Policy Center, 2021).
SC is among the top 10 states for rate of female homicides.
During the year 2019, 57 females in South Carolina were killed in SC by an intimate partner.
92 percent of female victims (49 out of 53) were murdered by someone they knew.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 56% of battered women arrived to work late 5 times a month and 74% are harassed at work by their abusers.
The economic impact of domestic violence in SC is over 358 million (Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage, 2020).
Our organizational activities include programs that are based upon national best practices and include:
Residential Services
Legal Advocacy
Individual Counseling
24-Hour Crisis Call System
Support Groups
Homeless Services
Prevention Programs
Programs at the organization seek to address and help remedy the issue of domestic violence and its detrimental impact on families seeking affordable housing and to live free from a dangerous domestic violence situation. Domestic violence is about power and control and is clearly a problem in our service area. The abuser wants to dominate the victim/survivor and wants all the power in the relationship and uses violence in order to establish and maintain authority and power. Perpetrators of domestic violence are usually not sick or deranged, but have learned abusive, manipulative techniques and behaviors that allow them to dominate and control others to obtain the responses they desire. This type of power and control is often a reason that victims feel powerless in the justice system and often are hesitant to cooperate with the prosecution. Therefore, our legal advocacy program is designed to help victims navigate the judicial system and feel supported.
What makes Meg’s House special and conducive to positive outcomes for program participants is that we follow our humanistic core values (trust, respect, compassion, inclusion, honesty, transparency, accountability, and flexibility) in the decision-making process. Every decision is based upon our core values which are in the best interest of the program participant.
Upcoming Events:
“Nine at Nite” Golf Fundraiser
Date: September 9, 2022
Registration: 6:30pm to 6:45pm
Time: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Location: The Links at Stoney Point 709 Swing About, Greenwood, SC 29649
For more information about our Nine at Nite Golf Fundraiser, contact:
Katherine O’Neill, Chief Economic Development Officer for OneSpartanburg, Inc.
Questions for Katherine:
How is Spartanburg County managing the necessary infrastructure needed to meet the demands of the rapid growth? This has been a big issue in Greenville County. – One thing that Spartanburg has had in its favor, due to industrial growth, a lot of the road infrastructure was already in place. They’re focusing on the SW corridor of the county for the amount of industry coming in. Now there’s a focus on road widening, sewer water expansion projects, working with SSSD to guide growth and performance-based zoning in the SW area of the county to drive industry and infrastructure in that area.
What is the one thing, as you look into the next 3-5 years, that you have to be focused on moving forward? – Educational attainment. Recruiting business is great to get into the area, but in order to diversify, educational attainment has to be a priority.
Has anyone heard of any prospects for the Belk Distribution Center in Union County? Due to time, this question was not answered.
Are there plans to widen Reidville Rd west of Hwy 290 to meet residential and industrial expansion? Due to time, this question was not answered.
Resource Update
Liz Seman, Chief of Staff to the President at Furman University – FU has shown to be a highly vaccinated campus which has helped campus life get back to normal. Celebrating first Joseph Vaughn Day (first African-American graduate), co-host men’s NCAA March Madness 1st and 2nd round, Furman Engaged event to display their talents, and now they’re rolling toward the end of the semester. Check out their website for more ongoings at Furman.
Andrea Cooper, Upstate Forever – UF is a conservation organization that covers the 10 Upstate counties and the main initiative is clean water. The Upstate population is growing rapidly and the issue is how to accommodate this growth. There is a Historic and Natural Resources Trust initiative that is a focus currently. It leverages local dollars to attract state and federal support for conservation. There are many ways to get involved so please visit their website to see what’s best for you.
Meet the Upstarters Making the Most of the Upstate
Abundance of jobs & advancement opportunities drive region’s magnetism
Cherry blossoms blooming, green returning to trees, and temperatures rising combine to make spring one of the best times to live it up in the Upstate.
And our secret’s catching on: with an average of 34 people per day moving to the Upstate and South Carolina ranked the 2nd most popular moving destination in 2020, there’s a magnetism to our region.
So what’s attracting people to move up, make more and build their best lives in the Upstate? Boundless career opportunities — 260,000+ unique job postings from 11,330+ employers — mixed with superb quality of life.
Looking for inspiration or stories to tell your friends? Read on to meet the Upstarters making the most of life in the Upstate.
‘Opportunities to make an impact’: Michael Judice
Michael Judice, a Virginia native, loves the sense of community he’s found in Spartanburg since moving here a few years ago.
It’s a contrast to his 13 years spent in New York City, Philadelphia and Charlotte, where Michael gained experience with world-renowned architecture firms though felt the lifestyle was too expensive and “a hustle all the time.” Today, he works with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture’s Community Studio, helping to design projects like a parking garage, police operations building and massive redevelopment sites.
Looking for a location to grow their family and make a community impact, Michael and wife Cathryn moved to her native Spartanburg, where Michael’s applied his design love into renovating a craftsman bungalow. And they find life is the right speed here: walkable to downtown Spartanburg and a Happy Hollow Park, where they love to unwind with their three boys.
With the return of farmer’s markets, you can catch him planning recipes at the Hub City Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings — a perfect pairing of hobby and passion, as he serves on the Hub City Farmer’s Market Board of Directors.
“What I really like about the Upstate is that there are better opportunities here to make an impact in the local community. It’s small enough to actually effect change, and to get involved.”
Setting roots in Seneca: Allison Pursley Moran
Allison Pursley Moran, a Seneca native, never imagined building her life in the Upstate.
Six years after returning from the University of Alabama, she’s deepening her roots here and progressing through her company’s ranks.
As branch manager for the Greenville office ofECS Limited, Allison leads a team of 25 engineers, project managers and field technicians who perform due diligence, testing and ongoing code and specification review for construction sites.
“It blows my mind when I think about what I’ve been able to work up to within six years,” she adds, noting that the firm propelled her advancement from field technician through engineering certificate training and pursuing her Professional Engineer license.
“As long as you give back to a company that’s investing in you, you’re going to keep moving up,” she adds.
Allison and her husband, Andrew, welcomed a baby boy in December 2021, and they find the Upstate a perfect place to grow their family.
The pair loves to make the most of the scenic outdoors with their dog Sancho – taking in the dense concentration of waterfalls during hikes in Oconee County, or enjoying days on the water at Lake Keowee or Lake Hartwell.
“We’re so close to the mountains, we could hit anywhere from four to 10 waterfalls in a day,” she says.
A sweet spot for creatives: Jehan Wills
If you put Jehan Willls’ previous residences on a spectrum, you’d find a charming, Southern small Kentucky town at one end and the tree-lined streets of the nation’s capital at the other.
In between, you’ll find Mauldin, South Carolina, the supportive, “right size” atmosphere Jehan now calls home.
And what a journey she’s had: since moving to downtown Greenville in 2019, she and her husband purchased a home and welcomed twin boys. Shortly after, Jehan was promoted to Senior Marketing Manager with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture.
A marketing and communications pro with diverse experience, Jehan honed her skills working in commercial real estate in Charlotte before moving to Washington, D.C., as a Marketing Coordinator for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), a global architecture firm known for projects like the Burj Khalifa. There, she handled business development, proposals, and qualification efforts.
A graduate of the University of Kentucky with a B.A. in Corporate Communication, Jehan has always been interested in the intersection of marketing, business development, and communication— the sweet spot where she applies her creative energy today.
“I feel very fortunate to work with an understanding and collaborative team. I look forward to exploring my new role—both professionally and personally.”
In her off time, Jehan and family love to make the most of Greenville’s amenities, from outdoor eateries like Gather GVL to strolling Falls Park to visiting the Greenville Zoo with their one-year-old boys.
Join the Movement
Whether you’re interested in finding a job in Upstate SC or telling all your friends to make the move up and experience more in Upstate SC, you, too can join the movement.
Find a Job: Big names in business, technology and financial services maintain major headquarters operations in the Upstate, which means a range of open positions, including in marketing and sales, human resources, IT and much more. Explore the Move Up job board to find a job in Upstate SC today.
Get Social: share how you’re living your best life in Upstate SC by tagging #MoveUpSC and #UpstateVibe365 on social. Are you up for it?
The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX has big goals for sustainability! In 2021 it became a zero-waste event, diverting 100% of all waste from landfills. They were able to set baselines in many other areas as well, such as WtE, carbon footprint, water consumption and more.
Even more, is happening in 2022. The tournament is working on becoming a carbon-neutral event. Thanks to the support of Milliken & Co., Rabble Wine Co., and IAC Group the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX has partnered with TreesUpstate to do multiple tree giveaways throughout the year.
The first Tree Giveaway in honor of Arbor Day:
Date: Saturday, April 30
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Roger Milliken Center – 920 Milliken Road, Spartanburg, SC
The tournament has also partnered with the Hispanic Alliance, so you will see some changes in signage and social media this year. We are working on becoming an inclusive event and ensuring everyone feels welcomed. There will be bilingual volunteers, updates to the website featuring a Spanish section, and the signage at the tournament will be in Spanish and English.
We are also working with One Acorn to ensure outreach in the community! They want to reach ALL communities and ensure access to everyone that is interested.
There are many other great things happening before the tournament as well.
In partnership with Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful, we will be hosting a litter cleanup. Last year the tournament was able to help clean up 2260 pounds of litter!
In honor of Earth Day, we will be cleaning up a section of roadway in Spartanburg.
There is much more happening with sustainability leading up to the tournament and during the tournament. If you are interested in helping in any way, please reach out to us to let us know! There are many sponsorship opportunities within sustainability, volunteer opportunities, and other partnership opportunities…together we can make a difference.
Visit bmwcharitygolf.com for more information or sign up for the newsletter to stay in the know!
Creating a Safer Upstate Beyond the Shield Workshop – Law Enforcement Outreach Strategies
4/11/2022
The first Creating a Safer Upstate – Beyond the Shield Virtual Workshop of 2022 provided an opportunity for Upstate law enforcement agencies to share some of the ways they engage with their local communities.
The law enforcement panelists for the session were Chief Matt Hamby from the City of Greer, Chief Sonny Ledda from the City of Clinton, Chief Ben Ford from the City of Travelers Rest, and Lt. Todd Caron from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. The Community Leaders participating in the conversation will be Inez Morris from the West Greenville Neighborhood Association and Patrena Mims, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Center in Spartanburg’s Highland Neighborhood. Jim Shew from Marsh & McLennan and Keishe Nelson from Michelin coordinated the audience questions during the session.
Coffee with a Cop was a popular activity, along with community meetings, funeral escorts for veterans, and doing “talks” around town for churches and other civic groups. Many agencies offer trainings including active assailant, bus driver active shooter response, active shooter and reunification, and safety trainings for seniors and women. Many Upstate agencies also have citizens academies and do events for kids like trunk or treats, touch a trucks, First Bump Fridays, gun safety, Girls on the Run, summer Camp, and stuff a cruiser to collect school supplies and holidays gifts.
Ten at the Top will host a virtual event in May with Upstate agencies invited to hear from a National Night Out representative about the benefits of registering events this year, with the hope to have all events on the same day to build energy and awareness around community engagement.
Questions from the community involved building trust and relationships between law enforcement and communities. Chief Hamby discussed taking advantage of random opportunities to engage while working in neighborhoods, and the efforts law enforcement makes to incorporate community engagement into their work. COP cards (like baseball cards) were mentioned, and decals for drivers with autism. Many agencies receive training from their local disabilities and special needs boards.
View the slide presentation here, and a recording of the meeting here.
TATT CHAT RECAP: 
Creating a Safer Upstate Beyond the Shield Workshop – Law Enforcement Outreach Strategies