In March the USC School of Medicine received a $1.2 million grant from the City of Columbia to help the homeless through the Housing First program. The program will provide housing for 25 chronically homeless individuals in the Columbia area.
The program helps these individuals live on their own.
"We connect people with employment, medical care, mental health and substance-abuse treatment. We work with people interested in helping themselves end the cycle of homelessness by housing them first," said David Parker, Director of Supportive Housing Services at the USC School of Medicine, according to the USC Web site.
Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said he believes the participation of the USC School of Medicine is important to this program.
"The role of the USC School of Medicine is critical to the success of our Housing First program. USC is providing the service delivery to those in the program. The program could not move forward without them," Coble said.
Housing First is asking for the community's help to furnish these 25 apartments. The Cooperative Ministry has stepped in to conduct the furniture drive for Housing First.
David Kunz, executive director of the Cooperative Ministry, said the ministry is committed to meeting the acute needs of the community.
"We have always had a heart to help the city out when there was a need that we could meet," Kunz said.
Items needed to furnish these 25 one-bedroom apartments include: single beds with frames, dinette sets, end tables, night stands, chests and sofas or chairs.
The furniture drive for the Housing First program will take place Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. - noon at the Cooperative Ministry.
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