It is no secret that homelessness is a local issue, with over 1,000 people living on the streets or in shelters on a given day in Richland and Lexington counties, according to United Way of the Midlands.
This month presents continued efforts to address this problem in Columbia, with plans developing for a new homeless shelter and National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week taking place Nov. 15 to 21.
As part of the “Blueprint to Address Homelessness in South Carolina,” a 10-year plan submitted by the South Carolina Council on Homelessness in 2004, the shelter will include new approaches that set it apart from current shelters. The goal is to provide a 24/7 safe haven for homeless adults, despite their current mental or physical state.
“We had a summit in 2005 that brought together all the stakeholders and the government,” said Anita Floyd, Vice President for Community Impact at United Way of the Midlands who is also part of the S.C. Council on Homelessness.
Floyd said the plan was accepted in 2005 and since 2006, private efforts have brought together the care providers, business community and faith community to make the plan a reality. After running into zoning issues in the past, Floyd said they have now found a property on the corner of Elmwood and Main Street that is already zoned for a shelter.
“We hope to close on the property this month,” Floyd said, noting that designs are still being finalized but that the building process could potentially begin in March. “We’ve had tons of meetings with providers to ensure that the design will be successful.”
Dorothy Kendall, a psychiatrist for the Columbia Area Mental Health Center who works with mentally ill homeless people through MIRCI, is a native of Columbia and believes the new shelter will improve the community.
“With the limited resources we have, no one-size-fits-all solution is practical,” Kendall said. “Treatment needs to be tailored to the individual and the culture of homelessness needs to be considered.”
The new shelter will be built by the Midlands Housing Alliance, a partner of United Way, and seeks to meet these needs by providing safety from the streets as well as a day center fulfilling basic necessities and a recuperation center for those leaving the hospital.
The development of this shelter is timely considering National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which kicks off today at 11 a.m. with the 2009 Homeless Count Report Release at Trinity Cathedral. A prayer service on homelessness will follow at noon.
A supply drive sponsored by United Way of the Midlands and Midlands Interfaith Homeless Action Council will take place throughout the week.
“We’re trying to collect specific things that homeless people need a lot of,” Floyd said, listing items such as toothpaste, socks, washcloths and other small necessities.
Jennifer Moore, director of the Financial Stability Council for the United Way of the Midlands, said the supplies will be divided and distributed between local homeless shelters and providers.
“[The items] will be put into quart or gallon Ziploc bags so that they are easily portable for people,” Moore said.
Moore said that the drive raised enough supplies for 1,600 kits last year, and they hope to collect the same amount or more this year. People can help by dropping off kits and bulk items or volunteering to sort the supplies.
Donations should be taken to Trenholm Road United Methodist Church between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday or between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday. The kits will be distributed to local shelters and providers, including the recently opened winter shelter.
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