Lowcountry mayors working to tackle homelessness in the region

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD)- Homelessness is increasing in South Carolina, including here in the Lowcountry.

On a single night count in January 2022, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the state was recorded at 3,608.

The next year, the single night count was recorded at 4,053, that’s an 11% uptick in one year.

The leaders of municipalities across the Lowcountry notice this increase, “You learn that most people have a mental illness issue, an addiction issue, or a family violence issue,” Mayor of Mount Pleasant, Will Haynie said.

Haynie says years ago, former police chief Carl Ritchie started an initiative to talk with every homeless person in Mount Pleasant, learn their name and their story so they could connect them with resources.

“We need to be compassionate and we need to deal with them compassionately,” Haynie said.

It’s something they still do today and something that Summerville does as well.

“Our police force has been out and done a census, and works hard to connect people to resources who don’t want to be in homelessness,” Mayor of Summerville, Russ Touchberry said.

As the Lowcountry works to tackle the issue, the mayors across the larger area have joined forces in a mayor’s commission, working together to strategize on how to get people off the streets.

“They talked about a regional rapid homeless shelter where folks can be housed as well as having services on site to help them, whether it’s a medical need or a veterans affairs issue, or maybe it’s something as simple as getting their ID updated and renewed,” Touchberyy said.

Touchberry says the mayors have tentatively planned on meeting to discuss homelessness in the region, at the beginning of October.

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