The Samaritan Inn, a homeless program based in McKinney, celebrated 40 years of service to Collin County at an anniversary gala held in April.

The program was founded in 1984 by an association of churches in Collin County and first served as a men’s shelter with 10 beds, Chief Development Officer Kellie Maynard said in an email. In 2023, The Samaritan Inn served 474 residents, including 152 children, according to its website.

“We are the largest comprehensive program in Collin County and our mission is to help residents gain dignity and independence,” Maynard said.

In addition to housing, The Samaritan Inn offers counseling in financial education, mental health and more. The program focuses on holistic support of single men, single women and families as they experience homelessness, according to its website.

The gala raised more than $800,000 and kicked off the Legacy Giving campaign through the Samaritan Inn Foundation. Under the campaign, Samaritan Inn officials are developing a strategic plan to meet community needs for years to come.


“We felt it was important to announce [the campaign] at the gala, as the shelter continues to be full, especially with families,” Maynard said. “We need to be prepared for our future and get in front of the growing population of homelessness moving into Collin County and this campaign will do that.”