History of MIRCI
October 12, 1960 - A Social Club for Ex-Mental Patients was formed and held its first meeting in the office of the South Carolina Mental Health Association. Financial support for the club was provided by Altrusa, the Junior League and the Five Points Civitan Club, and a social group worker from the State Hospital was hired to lead the group.
March 1961 - The Board of Ex-Mental Patients was formally organized with representatives from these three supporting clubs and mental health workers.
October 1961 - The Board applied for and received a four-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health. A full-time director for the organization was hired.
July 1962 - The Center moved into 1830 Green Street. This same month, the members voted to be called the Friendship Center.
June 1963 - Because segregation of the races was prevalent in the early sixties, the Friendship Center only served white clients. A need was recognized in the African-American community and the Director and a committee investigated the possibilities of forming a Social Club for African-American patients being released from what was then Palmetto State Hospital. The Waverly Social Club was formed and met at the Bethlehem Community Center.
1965 - As the NIMH grant ended, the Department of Mental Health agreed to provide partial funding with the balance of the budget to be covered by the United Way. Community support also continued to provide funding.
1966 - After the two state hospitals were integrated, the Waverly Social Club moved into the Center and friendship took on a new dimension.
1974 - The neighborhood around 1830 Green Street changed (parking was as impossible then as it is now!) and the time had come to move. The Board made arrangements to rent a portion of the new facility at 1135 Carter Street where the Department of Mental Health was going to house a residential program.
Fall of 1993 - Friendship Center expanded services by opening Friendship Center West in Lexington County. The S.C. Department of Mental Health and the Lexington County Community Mental Health Center provide funding.
1993 - Friendship Center applied for and was awarded two grants in 1993 from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
1994 - Friendship Center began the Representative Payee Program to help clients manage their SSI and Social Security Income.
1994 - Friendship Center applied for and was awarded a grant form the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop a third apartment complex in the Lexington area.
October 1995 - Dena Bank Apartments (Friendship Center's first apartment community) opened providing 16 single bedroom apartments and a community room for residents in the St. Andrews area of Columbia.
April 1996 - Gault Grove Apartments opened providing 20 single bedroom apartments and a community room for residents in Cayce, SC.
1997 - Recognizing the need for training and development among those working with supportive housing, Friendship Center held its First Annual Special Needs Housing Conference in Charleston, SC.
June 1998 - Sandstone Apartments opened providing 20 single bedroom apartments and a community room for residents in the Lake Murray area.
September 1998 - Friendship Center sponsored the Second Annual Special Needs Housing Conference in Charleston, SC.
1998 - Friendship Center and the S.C. Department of Mental Health applied for and were awarded a Shelter Plus Care Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Named HomeBase, this program provides housing and services to homeless individuals who are diagnosed with a chronic mental illness or a mental illness and drug or alcohol dependency.
1998 - Friendship Center added Mental Illness Management Services (MIMS) program for center members who need more intensive services.
September 1999 - Friendship Center sponsored the Third Annual Special needs Housing Conference held in Myrtle Beach, SC.
September 2000 - Friendship Center sponsored the Fourth Annual Special Needs Housing Conference held in Myrtle Beach, SC.
December 2000 - Realizing the agency had outgrown its original name of Friendship Center, the Board voted to change the name to Mental Illness Recovery Center, Inc. (MIRCI) to better express the agency's diversity of programs.
March 2001 - Friendship Center, Inc. officially changes its name to MIRCI. Friendship Center East & Friendship Center West still exist and provide the same professionally designed programs as before, with all programs falling under the agency name MIRCI.
2002 - Began the Assisted Housing Program for Columbia Area Mental Health Center.
2003 - Harmon Hill Apartments opened providing 18 single bedroom apartments and a community room for residents in the St. Andrews area of Columbia.
2004 - MIRCI and the S.C. Department of Mental Health applied for and were awarded a second Shelter Plus Care Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This grant launched phase two of HomeBase and will provide housing and services to a minimum of an additional 29 homeless individuals who are diagnosed with a mental illness.
June 2004 - Began the Assisted Housing Program for Lexington County Community Mental Health Center.
November 2005 - Opened the Homeless Recovery Center on Gregg Street, which provides a variety of needs based services for homeless mentally ill.
Early 2007 - Opened the MIRCI Group Homes. This housing program is for individuals who would otherwise need hospitalization. Each home has 24-hour staffing where clients receive mental health support services, as well as opportunities to participate in educational and recreational activities.