Mayor William Cogswell announces unified effort to combat homelessness with Lowcountry Rapid Housing Program

This morning, Mayor William Cogswell announced the city’s intent to launch Lowcountry Rapid Housing Program, a transformative plan designed to address homelessness across four municipalities by providing rapid housing and comprehensive support services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This Housing First service model focuses on placing individuals and families into housing immediately and preparing them for permanent affordable housing solutions through wraparound services.

The announcement was made at the Mayors’ Summit on Homelessness and Affordability, where Mayor Cogswell, alongside Mayor Russ Touchberry of Summerville, led a panel discussion detailing the project. Mayor Cogswell has united the support of Mayor Touchberry, Mayor Reggie Burgess of North Charleston, and Mayor Will Haynie of Mt. Pleasant in this collaborative effort to offer immediate relief to the area’s unhoused population. Each local government would help fund this initiative, with the City of Charleston leading the charge.

The Lowcountry Rapid Housing Program would provide individual units with private spaces for sleeping, hygiene, and access to wraparound services to the tri-county’s homeless population. The wraparound services will include identification assistance, mental health and addiction treatment, physical therapy, job training, and more, aiming to prepare individuals for long-term, stable housing.

“This is an interim solution to a long-term problem. We can’t solve affordability overnight, but we can give people a safe place to sleep and a helping hand,” said Mayor Cogswell. “This concept has proven effective in other cities, including Columbia, and I’ve been working closely with our area mayors to ensure we create a rapid housing initiative tailored to the needs of the Lowcountry.”

Next steps involve finalizing a site for the initiative that will be accessible via public transportation and convenient for residents of all participating municipalities. Once site and design plans are finalized, the proposal will go before each municipality’s city council for approval of the plans and budgets.