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.