Scenes from LHM Social Services Foundation
It takes a village to help those in need, particularly assisting the unhoused.
That’s the working philosophy of Luke Drayer, who founded LHM Social Services Foundation in March 2023 with longtime colleague and friend Craig Bouslough. Today, both serve as chair and vice chair of the organization’s board of directors.
In January, LHM opened a new transitional housing facility in a former assisted living facility in Susquehanna Township for participants of its new program, Horizons.
LHM Social Services Foundation is a nonprofit organization “committed to identifying, implementing and sustaining solutions for unmet needs in our communities,” according to Amy Foerster, the chief executive officer.
“From the beginning…the vision for LHM Foundation centered on having a positive impact on the crisis of homelessness in our area,” she said. “In pursuit of this vision, (LHM) set out to understand how it could make a meaningful contribution to the region’s existing network of social services so as to support, not supplant, the good work of others.”
Drayer, of Hummelstown, provided a matching founding gift of up to $3 million that led to the formation of the LHM Foundation and purchased the 15-acre property that is home to the 42,000-square-foot facility. Drayer donated the building’s use to the foundation.
“I’ve been blessed to have an almost 40-year career in outpatient physical therapy,” Drayer said. “Several years ago, I sold the company I had built and knew I wanted to spend ‘the fourth quarter’ of my productive years paying it forward. I felt driven to have a positive impact on homelessness in our area.”
Foerster said that, in preparation for such an endeavor, LHM consulted with other nonprofits and public agencies serving unhoused populations “and learned that there is a need for additional transitional housing programs available for those experiencing homelessness in south-central Pennsylvania.”
LHM launched an “Expanding Horizons” fundraising campaign for the project in November 2024 through a “multi-faceted approach,” pursuing gifts from individuals and businesses, as well as public agency and private foundation grants.
“As you can imagine, as board chair, I’ll say that one challenge in launching such a significant social services program is the fundraising aspect of it,” Drayer stated. “Beyond that, however, I don’t so much consider it a challenge, but this has been a big undertaking for the whole team, starting a program that offers housing, meals and, most importantly, supportive case management in a residential setting.”
Positive Impact
The Horizons program focuses on addressing clients’ immediate needs and providing “the skills and resources to empower long-term stability,” according to the foundation.
Upon joining the program, individuals or families work with an assigned case manager, who assists them with establishing individual goals and addressing how to achieve them. Participants are referred to the Horizons facility through any agency or organization working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
While enrolled in the 18-month program, participants are guided by foundation staff and volunteers while being “held accountable for making meaningful progress toward their goals and establishing relationships with relevant community services.”
Concurrently, clients are offered “supportive programming” on such topics as financial literacy, healthy living environments (i.e. parenting, cleaning cooking, etc.) and tenant/homeowner rights and responsibilities.
Other available programming includes educational assistance and school enrollment, as well as spiritual and emotional growth. All programming is available only to those enrolled in the Horizons transitional housing program, not to the general public.
“Through its Horizons program, LHM will address participants’ immediate concerns of ‘where will I sleep’ and ‘what will I eat’ so that they can focus on growing the skills and accessing the resources necessary to overcome their individual barriers to housing security,” Foerster noted.
Renovations began on the existing Horizons building in mid-2025 for opening in January. The former senior living facility comprises 58 units that include furniture, internet access, full private bathroom, closet space and a kitchenette with sink, mini-refrigerator and microwave for program participants.
“I think at some level, we all—housed, unhoused, employees, retirees, volunteers, everyone—want to know that we matter—that we’ve made a difference,” Foerster said. “I am driven by the desire, the obligation to have a positive impact on one another. And the fact that I get to do that work with colleagues and community partners who have those same motivations is incredibly fulfilling.”
LHM Social Services Foundation facility is located at 3251 Butler Ave., Harrisburg (Susquehanna Township). For more information, visit www.lhm-foundation.org or call 717-723-3996.
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