Lifting the Lost, Providing Hope for the Future
Building Community
Saving Grace Ministries exists to provide safe, affordable, and stable housing for homeless individuals while empowering them to regain their independence and achieve their full potential. We believe that everyone deserves a safe and secure place to call home, and we strive to create an environment that promotes personal growth, dignity, and self-sufficiency. Through partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders, we aim to provide solutions to the problem of homelessness and create a brighter future for those in need. Furthering our missional calling, we provide client re-entry housing and affordable apartment housing targeting those formerly incarcerated, veterans, and the elderly. We also operate a community center that provides community services for families and programming for youth education and recreation. We believe that providing access to these services can help individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency, improve their quality of life, and contribute to the well-being of our community.
Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. is a Buffalo-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to serving men referred by the Erie County Department of Social Services. Over the past ten years, SGM has developed relationships with partner organizations in Rochester, New York, as well as Tampa, Florida, each of which operates a partner "Grace House" program in their respective cities.
SGM was founded on the premise that faith-based organizations are able to accomplish goals that many times government cannot. Through strategic partnerships, linkage agreements with area providers, and the support of the community of faith, SGM has reached thousands of men returning to Erie County since opening the first "Grace House" program facility in 2001.
Over 600 homeless individuals will come through the "Grace House" program each year.
From its beginnings as a single 5-bed residence in 2001 to the current 15 facility, 108-bed program, the “Grace House” Transitional Residence Program has become a statewide model re-entry program, serving over 600 clients per year in Buffalo, NY.
Our Team
The Saving Grace Ministries Leadership team has remained intact for over 12 years. Founder & CEO Rev. Terry King has overcome incarceration and addiction to lead Saving Grace Ministries to where it is today. Rev. King has been the primary leader in ensuring the New York State Certification of Saving Grace’s Emergency Shelter. Agency President Sheryl King, MSW-R, has over 40 years of clinical experience. As a founding member of Saving Grace Ministries, Sheryl brings a depth of knowledge in guiding the agency’s policies, programming, and stakeholder engagement.
Director of Corportate Compliance and Communications is Jordan Purrington. Jordan is in her first year of service to SGM, bringing a new and fresh perspective to the table as it comes to maintaining our policies, procedures, and reaching the community for donor needs and involvement.
As a New York State Certified Emergency Shelter and an essential service provider, Saving Grace Ministries remained open throughout the recent pandemic. The staff was resilient and reported to work daily after being deemed essential workers. Staff adapted to new norms while prioritizing client needs and service delivery. The agency relied upon long standing relationships with contract partners, stakeholders, and government agencies to serve clients well.
Acceptance of All
The agency mission statement and policy of accepting "all client referrals with no exceptions" stems from a position of inclusion and acceptance of all. The underpinnings of DEI begin with the Missional Statement, “Saving Grace Ministries exists to provide safe, affordable, and stable housing for homeless individuals while empowering them to regain their independence and achieve their full potential. We believe that everyone deserves a safe and secure place to call home, and we strive to create an environment that promotes personal growth, dignity, and self-sufficiency.” The agency adopted a DEI policy in alignment with Stakeholder partners at Erie County, and New York State. Our staff receives client service training that teaches them to address clients with dignity in regard to their sexual orientation or name identification. We maintain a culture that respects all individuals and provides each client a path forward to independent living.
The agency serves those who are often marginalized due to disabilities, and we also serve clients struggling with homelessness due in part to shelter care barriers brought on by gender identity. Through years of service, Saving Grace Ministries has championed accommodations to service those clients with disabilities and those that face barriers to shelter care and housing. Saving Grace accepts and works with individuals under judicial oversight, those with histories of violent behavior, and those with sexual offenses and diagnosed or undiagnosed mental illness. The Saving Grace Ministries track record of success with client placements speaks to the program's impact and influence within Erie County.
Board of Directors
Rev. Terry King
Rev. Terry King is the founder and Chairman of the Board for Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. Rev. King founded SGM, Inc. in 1999 after he became painfully aware of the lack of coordinated services available for men who are released from prison. As CEO, Rev. King oversees the operation of the “Grace House” Transitional Residence Program, a transitional housing program for unaccompanied homeless adult males who are under supervision by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
Mrs. Sheryl King
Mrs. Sheryl King is the President and Secretary of the Board of Directors, and is also a founding member of the Board. Sheryl is a Social Worker at Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo, where she coordinates discharge planning with patients in need of residential health care. Sheryl provides ongoing assistance in applying best practices to case management and program service provision.
Dr. Rev. Ron Burgio
Dr. Rev. Ron Burgio is the Senior Pastor at Love Joy Church in Lancaster, New York. Rev. Burgio is also the past President of Elim Fellowship, an association of nine hundred pastors, ministers, missionaries, and one hundred affiliated churches. An alumnus of Elim Bible Institute and a graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York, he is ordained through Elim Fellowship and has a Doctorate of Ministry from the School of Bible Theology in San Jacinto, California.
Rev. Don Snyder
Chaplain Snyder retired in 2011 from being the Coordinating Chaplain at Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, NY with over 26 years of state service. He is Director of Compassion Care Ministries of the NY Ministry Network (Assemblies of God), a Volunteer Chaplain with the Orleans County Sheriff's Office, and president of Orleans-Recovery Hope Begins Here, Inc. He has served on Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. Board of Directors since 2003.
Rev. Leroy Wiggins
Rev. Leroy Wiggins has served as a pastor at The Chapel for many years, and is currently the Campus Pastor at their Cheektowaga Campus. Rev. Wiggins is very active in service to the WNY community, including his service to the residents of Saving Grace Ministries. He began serving on the SGM board in 2021.