About Us
Providence Home was founded in 1963 by Johnny Zenoni, a reformed alcoholic who was arrested and woke up in jail for driving under the influence. From that day forward, Johnny decided to entrust his life to God. He “dried out” at a rehabilitation center in Ridgeway, SC and joined Alcoholics Anonymous where he began to work with other alcoholics. Making it his life’s mission to help men like himself get back on their feet and transform their lives through the power of Jesus Christ, he poured his life into ministry to men. Providence Home was born from humble beginnings when he took in eight alcoholic men at his own expense on a farm in Lexington County. Over the years, Providence Home grew to include a chapel, community outreach program, counseling, and ministry to women by 1971. By the mid-1980’s, Providence Home had based its headquarters on North Main Street, Columbia, with shelters for both men and women. However, in June 1991, Providence Home became two legally separated entities. The men’s side retained the name Providence Home and the women’s home became The Women’s Shelter.
Providence Home has been a place of refuge and hope for over 57 years where thousands of struggling men in the Midlands have received the help they so desperately needed to transform their lives.
From this rich heritage, Providence Home continues to move forward. The mission remains the same: to help stabilize the living conditions of dislocated men and to encourage progress in realizing their full personal potential in self-sufficient living through the power of Jesus Christ.
