The future of housing for the homeless in Aiken County
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - The number of those experiencing homelessness is continuing to rise.
“The homeless population is growing simply because, as a whole nationwide trend, there’s less and less very low-income housing available. And at the same time, rents are rising very quickly, and wages are rising slowly,” said George Clare, President of Aiken County Homeless Housing.
The Point in Time count numbers showed around 150 people are experiencing homelessness in Aiken County. Clare says that number is higher.
“The current count in Aiken County is more than 250 students. Now, statewide, children make up about 20% of the population. So if you figure 250 Is 20%, there’s another 1,000 homeless folks out there,” said Clare.
His solution is to bring in a transitional tiny house community to the city of Aiken.
“We can move otherwise homeless folks in and set them up with a program that deals with whatever issues they may have that’s causing their homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse issues, physical disability issues, job training issues, financial training, and if it’s a family, there might be parenting issues, this kind of thing,” he said. “Whatever it takes to get them into a position where they can go get a job that will pay enough that with possibly other assistance that’s available to them, they can move into what I’ll call normal housing. Then that frees up a residence for another homeless person to come in and work through the program.”
He shows off a model one-quarter of the size of a real tiny house that’ll be 22 feet long and 8 feet wide. Each model will have a bed, an area for other furniture, a kitchen and a bathroom.
“The community is going to have to figure out some other solution whether it’s tiny houses, which in my opinion wouldn’t be a bad approach, or something else. provide people with housing they can afford,” he said.
He’s working with the city to address the current ordinance and work to allow nonprofits to build communities like this.
Clare says they’re looking at different pieces of land that would best fit what they’re looking to do and then look to rezone and continue to keep the ball rolling.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
