Homeless Services Ad Hoc Committee — Columbia, SC
Date: 2025-01-07
Time: 13:00

HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
 TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2025


The Homeless Services Adhoc Committee will conduct a meeting on
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall (Mayor's Conference
Room), 1737 Main Street, second floor, Columbia, SC 29201. Members of
the public may view the meeting online at www.columbiasc.gov. Please
contact the City Clerk’s Office at (803)545-3045 or cityclerk@columbiasc.gov
if you have questions regarding this meeting.

 The Honorable William Brennan, District III
 The Honorable Aditi Bussells, At-Large  The Honorable Tyler D. Bailey, At-Large

 Prior to entering the meeting please turn all electronic communication devices to the silent,
vibrate or off position. All presenters should speak directly into the microphone for recording
 purposes.

CALL TO ORDER

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

1. Homeless Services Update - Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of
 Homeless Services

2. Point in Time Count - Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless
 Services

EXECUTIVE SESSION

3. Discussion of negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements
 pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2)

  Homeless Services

ADJOURNMENT




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HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
 TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2025


The Homeless Services Adhoc Committee will conduct a meeting on
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall (Mayor's Conference
Room), 1737 Main Street, second floor, Columbia, SC 29201. Members of
the public may view the meeting online at www.columbiasc.gov. Please
contact the City Clerk’s Office at (803)545-3045 or cityclerk@columbiasc.gov
if you have questions regarding this meeting.

 The Honorable William Brennan, District III
 The Honorable Aditi Bussells, At-Large  The Honorable Tyler D. Bailey, At-Large

 Prior to entering the meeting please turn all electronic communication devices to the silent,
vibrate or off position. All presenters should speak directly into the microphone for recording
 purposes.

CALL TO ORDER

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

1. Homeless Services Update - Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of
 Homeless Services

2. Point in Time Count - Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless
 Services

EXECUTIVE SESSION

3. Discussion of negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements
 pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2)

  Homeless Services

ADJOURNMENT




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MEETING DATE: January 7, 2025

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Homeless Services Update - Ms. Kameisha Heppard,
 LMSW, Director of Homeless Services
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:




Updated: 1/3/2025 2:54 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 2
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MEETING DATE: January 7, 2025

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Point In Time Count - Ms. Kameisha Heppard,
 LMSW, Director of Homeless Services
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:


ATTACHMENTS:
  #b: 2025 PIT Count Flyer (PDF)




Updated: 1/3/2025 4:33 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 3
 2.b




 Poi nt i n Ti me Count
 January 22, 2025

THE PIT COUNT VOLUNTEER WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE
 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT SUPPORTED BY YOUR COUNTY
 COORDINATOR, THE CONTINUUM OF CARE AND
 PARTNERING AGENCIES.
 We Need Volunteers




Take acti on and be a part of the soluti on.

 If you have questi ons or concerns emai l:
 shawn@palmettoplace.org or
 bross@uway.org



 Packet Pg. 4
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MEETING DATE: January 7, 2025

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Discussion of negotiations incident to proposed
 contractual arrangements pursuant to S.C. Code
 §30-4-70(a)(2)
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:

PURPOSE:
Homeless Services




Updated: 12/30/2024 2:31 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 5

HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2025


CALL TO ORDER

The Columbia Homeless Services Adhoc Committee conducted a meeting on
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at City Hall (Mayor’s Conference Room), 1737 Main
Street, Second Floor, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The Honorable Will Brennan,
Chair called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m. and the following members were
present:

Attendee Name Title Status
Will Brennan Chair Present
Aditi Bussells Member Present
Tyler D. Bailey Member Present

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

1. Homeless Services Update - Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of
 Homeless Services – The information was received. No action was taken.

Councilor Brennan highlighted the importance of evaluating past successes in
homeless services and identifying opportunities for future improvements. He
emphasized the need for strong partnerships with service providers.

Ms. Teresa Wilson, City Manager thanked Mr. Brennan and Mr. Bailey for their
leadership, noting that the opening of Rapid Shelter two years ago was uncharted
territory. She emphasized the importance of the ad hoc committee in addressing
immediate needs with local providers' support.

Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services provided an update
on key achievements and initiatives. Since the 2022 launch of Rapid Shelter, 79
chronically unsheltered individuals have been permanently housed. The department
has also partnered with non-traditional providers to assist those with dual
diagnoses. Since June 2023, 27 residents have received aftercare services, totaling
115 engagements. As of December 31, 2024, 46 individuals remain at Rapid
Shelter, with 827 community referrals.

There was discussion about defining resistance to service; last permanent address
reflected in the data; the number of individuals serviced; referral placement;
donations and tax deductible status; and the Adopt a Pallet and Rapid Shelter
mentorship programs.



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 HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2025


2. Point In Time Count - Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless
 Services – The information was received. No action was taken.

Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services explained the Point in
Time (PIT) Count, an event organized by HUD as a designated evening where both
sheltered and unsheltered individuals are surveyed and counted. This year, the PIT
Count will take place on January 22, 2025. It is typically scheduled by the end of
the month to align with the depletion of resources available to these individuals.
The PIT Count is carried out by teams gathering data on the needs of those
experiencing homelessness. She presented a visual aid illustrating the Midland Area
Consortium for the Homeless (MACH) while emphasizing the challenges posed by
the large geographic area covered. It is important for the City of Columbia to show
strong support for the event, given the investments made in addressing
homelessness. She also extended a call for help to the surrounding counties.

There was discussion about how the date is selected; homeless service providers
within surrounding counties and municipalities; staff volunteers; how the PIT count
is conducted; data points for the homeless population; distribution of funding; and
the city’s involvement with MACH.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Upon a motion made by Dr. Bussells and seconded by Mr. Bailey, the Committee
entered into Executive Session at 1:52 p.m. for the discussion of Item 3.

3. Discussion of negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements
 pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2)

  Homeless Services

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 2:56 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:



Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC
City Clerk


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