Berkeley County is considered one of the fastest growing counties in the country. As the largest county in the state of South Carolina (land mass), it is negligent that there are currently no shelter beds available anywhere in the county. The county is participating in the regional development of the Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties and seeing the mass influx of new residents (both by choice and by force of rising housing costs) moving into the county as a consequence.

Additionally, the Berkeley County School District reports that there are more than 3,000 students who meet the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness which defines homeless children and youth as individuals who lack fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. It is difficult to quantify, but there are noted cases of students who are independently homeless within the school district. Without shelter beds in the county, providing safe and secure shelter for these individuals while keeping them on their educational track is impossible.  Whether families with school children who are one overstayed welcome away from being without shelter, to the person working at a low wage job and living in extended stay hotels who is one medical emergency away from being without shelter, to the person sleeping in their vehicle who one tow away from being without a vehicle to sleep in...we need a permanent solution!

We have a plan to begin addressing this issue (click the link below) and need your support.  Our county spends almost $1 Million a year on the animal shelter.  With your signature, we can show those with the power and resources to address this need, that our human citizens deserve that same consideration. Thank you for helping us be the change we wish to see!

SECURITY VILLAGE PROPOSAL

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:07f2c8d7-59cc-3a14-b143-29eca28305f1