The Board of Directors of the Horry County Shelter Home announced Tuesday the Horry County Shelter Home will cease operations as they currently exist effectively immediately.

Since its inception in 1973, the Shelter has served more than 5,144 children.

"When the Shelter was originally established, there were very few places, if any, that served abused, abandoned, or neglected children. There was a real need for an

emergency shelter," said Brent Groome, Board Chairman.

"Over the years as we have continued to serve children, the State, through the Department of Social Services, has picked up on filling this need as well. Today, there are a number of alternatives to provide for the needs of these children."

With the needs of the community changing, the Horry County Shelter Home Board of Directors determined that the mission as originally stated had been met and the need

for the Shelter Home is no longer what it once was due to re-focusing of the placement guidelines and the changes in laws and regulations.

"Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a situation where in order to meet the state and federal regulations our operating budget for the Shelter has increased over 100 percent just in the last four years and the number of children that are being sent to the Shelter has declined drastically," continued Groome.

"That decline is due in part to new placement guidelines and the desire to prioritize placement with extended families and foster homes. The community support for the Shelter Home over these 35 years has been tremendous. Even in tough times, the United Way, civic groups, churches, businesses, and individuals stepped forward to keep us going. We certainly appreciate all of those efforts both with financial contributions and with in-kind donations. It really was a Home that the community supported."