“First city in the Southeast”
During a press conference held earlier today, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, City Council members Aditi Bussells, Ed McDowell and Will Brennan, along with City Manager Teresa Wilson and Police Chief William “Skip” Holbrook spoke to media representatives, members of the Task Force to Prevent and End Homelessness and local homeless service providers to announce a new concept for providing services to the chronically unsheltered homeless population.
The concept for Rapid Shelter Columbia is the first transitional housing project of its kind to be launched in the southeast. The new temporary housing units will be built at 191 Calhoun Street. This is the site of the former Inclement Weather Center, which will now be identified as Rapid Shelter Columbia. The site will include approximately 50 Pallet sleeping cabins, which will be a part of a new construction plan. The congregate sleeping quarters which already exist on the property will continue to be utilized for overflow purposes during inclement weather nights.
The 50 individuals, who will be identified and designated to utilize the individual cabins, will also receive a full array of wrap around services from local professionals who will concentrate on assisting these persons with case management, life skills and arrangements for permanent housing. Local subject matter experts and homeless services providers will play a vital role in helping to screen and identify the individuals who will be housed in the Rapid Shelter Columbia cabins. The ultimate goal is to utilize the cabins for temporary transitional housing and then repeat the cycle for additional persons who are chronically unsheltered.
Construction for this project will be managed by the City of Columbia and will begin in September 2022 and the goal is to have the 50 cabins completed and ready for use by November 2022.
In addition to the construction operations, City officials will also be working over the next few months to solidify partnerships with local agencies for service provision purposes, as well as, seeking to hire three full-time staff members to oversee the daily management and operations of Rapid Shelter Columbia.
Once completed, Rapid Shelter Columbia will include 24 hour security, on-site case management services, on-site food services and it will provide a safe, stable and more sanitary environment for displaced/unhoused persons who may need assistance with getting their lives back in order.
The budget for Rapid Shelter Columbia is included in the budget amendment to be voted on by Columbia City Council during their City Council meeting scheduled for today, Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 4 PM. The meeting will be held in council chambers, located at City Hall, 1737 Main Street. The meeting will also be available for viewing via live stream from the city’s website at Columbiasc.gov
QUOTES
Below are quotes from various speakers who made comments during today’s 2 PM press conference.
Mayor Daniel Rickenmann
“Today’s announcement is a big step forward for our city in addressing the needs of our unsheltered population in Columbia. By getting people into shelter and helping them access the services they need, we can make Columbia a safer city for everyone.”
Councilwoman Aditi Bussells
“It is clear that Columbia cares about helping people; we have hundreds of services available for populations experiencing homelessness. What we are seeing, is that there is no place for the chronically unsheltered homeless, except the street or jail, neither of which compassionate options are. Today, we are announcing a whole new approach to addressing the root causes of homelessness across the city, including downtown, Garners Ferry and Harbison. There will be more accountability and collaboration moving forward.”
Councilman Ed McDowell
“I feel that this process will start the ball rolling in order to help those who are in critical need situations.
This is a community’s response to critical needs that have impacted our city.
This response in collaboration with our providers will lend itself to planting seeds of hope and not hopelessness.”
Councilman Will Brennan
“Filling in the gaps for our homeless service providers is something that the City needs to be the leader on, and we have heard them loud and clear. We are committed to investing in the well-being of all of our citizens. If there are barriers that are keeping homeless or unsheltered individuals or families from enjoying the best quality of life, we will work with our regional nonprofit service providers and government agencies to create that path to success.”
President and CEO, Columbia chamber of Commerce, Carl Blackstone
“This is a great first step in really solving the biggest problems that we’ve had in Columbia, since I’ve been with the Chamber for 8 years.” The actions today of building this campus down here is a great opportunity to give those folks who don’t have opportunities to have a shelter in their own space. I think that bringing the service providers here is another example of ways that we can help them the most underserved. It’s important as a collective team as law enforcement, as council and as business leaders around town come together and find a solution.
City Manager Teresa Wilson
“The Rapid Shelter Columbia model will provide the dignity of private space in a healing, safe environment which includes durable/comfortable cabins, bathrooms, laundry, community space, and most importantly, service providers. Expectations will be set and the adherence to rules and dignity standards will be strictly enforced.”
Columbia Police Chief William “Skip” Holbrook
“I’m always amazed by the courage and innovation that our city manager and elected officials follow to address difficult issues and there’s probably not a more complicated issue than homelessness. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of the task force and allowing law enforcement and the police department to be at the table. I’ve been so impressed how everyone is recognizing that law enforcement is not the tip of the spear that solves the problem, but we are willing to be a part of the solution.”
Pallet Founder/CEO Amy King:
“Homelessness is a crisis affecting over 500,000 of our neighbors across the country. Our villages prove when our unhoused neighbors have access to dignified shelter with a locking door and a resource net of services, they can stabilize and transition to permanent housing. Partnerships are crucial when addressing the homelessness crisis and we are proud to join the city of Columbia to provide this opportunity to those in need.”
**Ms. King was not present at the press conference, but she did provide a quote.