Christ City of Refuge - Creating a space for second chances.
Creating a space for second chances.
Without those things, moving forward can feel almost impossible.
In Hartsville, Christ City of Refuge (CCOR) saw that need and created a place where people could begin again.
More than a decade ago, founder Jimmy Johnson and his family opened their farm to people experiencing homelessness, addiction, and the challenges of returning to the community after incarceration. What started as one family making room for people who needed it has grown into a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization that provides a safe place to live and the support people need to rebuild their lives.
Today, CCOR has seven residential cottages on the family farm, where adults can stay for free for six months. During that time, staff and volunteers help residents work through the practical challenges that can stand in the way of a fresh start.
That might mean helping someone get an ID or reinstate a driver’s license. It might mean helping someone find a job, connect with treatment, or get to an important appointment. Each task may seem small on its own, but together, they can help make a new beginning possible.
In 2025, 28 residents had a place to stay and an opportunity to focus on what comes next. CCOR also made 78 trips to rehabilitation facilities across South Carolina, helping people access the care they needed. And 13 residents were able to reinstate their licenses and purchase their own vehicles.
But the work of CCOR goes beyond any one service.
Residents have a place to live, but they also have people in their corner. Staff and volunteers help navigate paperwork, make phone calls, connect residents with resources, and work through the obstacles that can make rebuilding a life feel overwhelming.
That consistent support matters.
A second chance is rarely created by one program or one solution. It happens through a series of steps: finding a safe place to stay, getting the right documents, reconnecting with work, accessing care, and building the confidence to keep moving forward. CCOR helps residents take those steps while reminding them that they do not have to take them alone.
By bringing together housing, practical support, volunteers, and a community willing to show up, Christ City of Refuge is helping people move from simply getting by to building a more stable future.
This is what nonprofits get done every day. They see a need, create a place for people to begin again, and provide the practical support that turns a second chance into a real opportunity for a new future.