Homelessness In Columbia
Homelessness in Columbia , while on the rise, is not a new problem. Studies dating back to 1979 have reported findings quite similar to the current situation. Those problems include more homeless people and a lack of services such as not enough transitional, emergency or affordable housing, limited job training options, addictions and physical and mental health problems.
For years citizens have tried to improve and coordinate services to the homeless with little success. A major obstacle to establishing a permanent emergency shelter has been location. Many oppose locating such a facility in almost any part of the city. In addition, the absence of a permanent site for a shelter makes it hard to utilize grant money, currently available, to improve an existing facility or construct a new facility, according to area civic leaders.
According to federal guidelines, a person is homeless who "lacks a fixed, regular and adequate night time residence and has a primary night time residence" that is a supervised public or private shelter, a temporary institutional residence or other special housing. Another widely accepted definition is a person who " lacks a night time residence, including those who are the street, in shelters, or one week away from eviction.
Debate over what causes a person to become homeless continues to shape responses to the problem. The roots of homelessness are traced to diverse social problems from increased unemployment to living in substandard housing. Other often cited causes are decreased unemployment benefits, destruction of traditional low-income housing, spiraling rents and other social and economic factors. Vulnerability and political problems have left people in the streets.
A May 14, 2002, Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless "point-in-time" study in Columbia estimated the number of homeless living on the street as 650. On the same date a shelter count of 752 was obtained from local providers (Salvation Army, Oliver Gospel Mission, Christ Central Ministry, His House, Hannah's House, Sistercare, Trinity Housing Corporation, Family Shelter and Providence Home.) The 2004 results are expected to be in the same general range or somewhat higher.
Shelters and transitional housing in the City of Columbia include 350 emergency shelter beds and 160 transitional housing units. With a daily homeless population of over 1,500 there is a significant need for additional shelter and supportive services.
Shelters and other agencies serving the homeless generally differentiate among the: chronically homeless, first-time homeless, elderly and youth, people who are HIV positive, former convicts and other groups.
Homelessness Across America
Each year, an estimated 2 million Americans may be homeless. Among those most likely to be homeless are victims of domestic violence who usually face continued abuse if they return home. Many Americans end up homeless because they pay more than 50 percent of their income for housing, but cannot make their money stretch far enough to meet other monthly expenses. So, in time, they get behind on rent or mortgage payments.
The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act was the first and only federal legislation designed to assist the homeless. The act outlines 15 programs which states may adopt to provide services to the homeless. Those include emergency shelter, transitional housing, job training, health care and education. (Source: nationalhomeless.org)
The following list compares the existing programs and future plans for the homeless in Columbia , S.C. and Topeka , Ks. The capital cities are similar in population and economic status, but vary in their application of the McKinney Act.
Columbia, SC
· Population: 117, 357
· Median household income: $37, 082
· Estimated number of homeless any given night: 1,749
· Organization for decreasing homelessness: Community Committee for the Homeless
· Emergency shelters: 350
· Transitional housing units: 160
· 20 percent of homeless estimated to be drug addicted
Topeka, KS
· Population: 184. 053
· Median household income: $40,624
· Estimated number of homeless any given night: 1,600
· Organization for decreasing homelessness: Topeka Homeless Task Force
· Emergency shelters: 306
· Transitional housing units: 114
· 13 percent of homeless estimated to be drug addicted
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