On May 18, 2023, members of the Greater Good Greenville community met for a Community Lunch and Learn to discuss homelessness in Greenville County. We heard from a panel of speakers: Lizzie Bebber with United Ministries, Lorain Crowl with United Housing Connections, Ryan Duerk with Miracle Hill Ministries, Jennifer Fouse Sheorn with Triune Mercy Center, Irene Hamilton Jones with Greenville County Schools and Susan McLarty with Greenville Homeless Alliance. We also heard from Lauren Stephens with Salvation Army and Julie Meredith with Safe Harbor. Here are our top five takeaways:
- Thousands of people in Greenville County are experiencing homelessness. In 2021-2022, there were at least 3,800 men, women and children who lack regular fixed or adequate residence. This includes 2,381 people who slept in emergency shelters during the 12 month period (there are 450 total emergency shelter beds in Greenville County) and 1,304 school aged children.
- Fortunately, there are many service providers who are helping: Triune Mercy Center, Miracle Hill Ministries, United Ministries, United Housing Connections, Greenville County Schools, Salvation Army and Safe Harbor, to name a few. These organizations provide shelter and/or assistance with needs such as mental health and addiction.
- The lack of affordable housing creates a bottleneck. Shelters are designed for short term stays, yet people are staying much longer because there are very limited next step resources (transitional housing, affordable housing, etc.)
- The solution includes changes in policy. Greenville County needs more public investment in affordable housing.
- You can help! Spread the word, donate to or volunteer with local nonprofits, make an impact investment (click here for a blog post), speak up for policy changes (listen to this podcast or read this blog on evictions in South Carolina and check out this blog city zoning). Stay abreast by subscribing to newsletters from Greenville Homeless Alliance and Greenville Affordable Housing Coalition.
