2022 SCICH SC State of Homelessness Report - Flipbook - Page 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In communities across America, homelessness continues to be a
major topic of discussion. Concerns include rising housing costs,
increased evictions, lack of “affordable” housing, unsheltered
homelessness and children living without a permanent nighttime
residence. In 2022, following the COVID-19 outbreak, new concerns
like inflation, the price of goods, and soaring interest rates have
created new barriers for persons at-risk for or already experiencing
homelessness.
In South Carolina, the number of people requesting assistance
from providers utilizing the Homeless Management Information
System (HMIS) increased 18% in FY21 over FY20. As the cost of
housing rises and federal, state and local assistance dollars are
depleted, there is great concern regarding increased housing
instability for our citizens who live paycheck-to-paycheck, on
fixed incomes or low-incomes, or have no income at all.
This report takes a broad look at homelessness across our state,
but also provides a closer look at varying data sets, when in
comparison, offer a holistic view of the state of homelessness in
South Carolina. Many of these data sets include key trends and
indicators that provide our communities with the data needed to
prepare for the months and years ahead, as we work together to
make homelessness brief, rare and non-recurring.
The data sources used in this report include South Carolina HMIS
data, Point in Time Count data, data from the US Department of
Veterans Affairs, McKinney-Vento data (data on children
experiencing homelessness in SC schools); PATH data (Projects for
Assistance in Transition from Homelessness), data from the SC
Department of Corrections, and United Way’s 211 system.
Each section of this report provides demographic data, details on
the populations experiencing homelessness, and data on the
major issues and barriers that often prevent the opportunity for
stable housing. It is our hope that readers will use this report to
support the work of informing and educating our leaders and
citizens on the issues surrounding homelessness and to enlighten
and inspire further collaboration, as we work together to house
our most vulnerable citizens.
2022 SC
STATE OF HOMELESSNESS REPORT
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