Aiken leaders aim to help homeless with ‘point in time’ count
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re looking deeper into solutions for homelessness in Aiken County.
On Thursday, we told you about the “point in time”, or PIT, count, which helps come up with numbers and how to help those in need of resources.
Now, we are seeing how the city of Aiken could help.
Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh says the city understands while Aiken continues to grow, they have to for growing homelessness.
USC Aiken, Aiken Tech students hold day-of-service event
Students at USC Aiken and Aiken Tech marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day by holding a day of service around the community on Friday.
He says it starts with addressing affordable housing, re-working zoning ordinances to allow that and partnering with agencies to help tackle the issue.
“The heart of Aiken has turned into a city, and it was never a city. It was a place for families to continue to grow,” said Courtney Davis.
Davis says it’s hard for her knowing the city she used to call home is getting harder for her and other families to live in.
“It’s still not really good programs. And is now heavily populated here, and everything is going up more than you’re getting paid,” said Davis.
Point in time volunteers are on the ground, bringing resources to those insecure while also helping to get a better picture of Aiken’s rising homeless population.
Shelters aim to keep people out of cold
Overnight shelters work hard 365 days a year, and the winter weather certainly elevated that. They’re finding solutions in how they can help keep people off the streets.
PIT count volunteer Teresa Callahan said: “We can’t turn a blind eye anymore, and it’s blatantly in front of us, head on, and you see every corner.”
Bedenbaugh says bringing more options for affordable housing starts with re-evaluating zoning ordinances.
The city council is in the early stages of potentially amending ordinances to allow emergency transitional tiny homes.
Bedenbaugh says there are more factors that come into play for tackling the issue that they need to keep a priority.
“Providing housing that is affordable for those individuals and adequate housing stock necessary treatment for those that have conditions that require treatment, whether it’s drug and alcohol, mental health,” said Bedenbaugh.
Veterans get more benefits with expansion of PACT Act
It just got easier for veterans with certain illnesses to apply for life-changing benefits. The list of illnesses linked to the PACT Act just got longer.
Meanwhile, Davis says she needs the city’s future plans to reflect sooner rather than later for the better of her community.
“If you come out here and you look at these streets where it used to be life, and now there’s no life. Most people are walking around in the cold, houses are abandoned,” said Davis.
The city says they’ve also provided the Salvation Army of Aiken $400,000 to make a more robust shelter to accommodate the growing needs.
Bedenbaugh says the results from the PIT count will help bring a better idea of where Aiken stands.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
