One80 Place launches new Eviction Prevention service line in Richland, Lexington counties
August 14, 2023
One80 Place, the state’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to ending and preventing homelessness, has launched a new Eviction Prevention line through the United Way Association of South Carolina’s 2-1-1 phone service. Now, renters in Lexington and Richland counties who are at risk of being evicted from their homes can dial 2-1-1 from any phone and be connected directly to a One80 Place representative who can help them navigate their next steps, connect them with no-cost legal assistance and access other supportive services.
The new phone system is one way One80 Place is implementing the Eviction Protection Program (EPP), an initiative of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prevent evictions from reaching the courts and diverting existing cases from formal legal proceedings. One80 Place is one of 21 other agencies nationwide to receive the grant to implement the two-year program, which began in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One80 Place has partnered with SC 2-1-1 for several years to operate the Housing Crisis Line, which has become widely used across Richland and Lexington counties by individuals who are experiencing homelessness and need immediate support. The new service line will build upon that success.
“The new Eviction Prevention line will allow our team to intervene at a critical point before an individual loses their housing, when we have an opportunity to help them stabilize financially and potentially avoid eviction,” said Stacey Denaux, Chief Executive Officer of One80 Place. “Understanding the rules and procedures of the eviction process can be confusing and overwhelming, but people do not have to navigate it alone. All they have to do is dial 2-1-1 and we’ll be there to help.”
One80 Place’s Court Navigators will answer the Eviction Prevention line calls and will arrange supportive services based on the needs of each client. One80 Place is collaborating with South Carolina Legal Services to provide legal representation and to help expand housing courts in Richland and Lexington counties.
About One80 Place
One80 Place has been ending and preventing homelessness since 1984. Headquartered in Charleston, with offices in North Charleston and Columbia, One80 Place provides a range of services proven to help individuals, families and Veterans obtain and maintain a safe place to live. Annually, One80 Place serves more than 1,600 individuals across 20 counties. Services include case management, primary and mental health care, legal services and street outreach. To learn more, visit www.one80place.org.
