Homelessness White Paper

Released June 6, 2025, the Homelessness White Paper is a collective approach to reduce homelessness and protect economic health and safety in Anderson County.

This White Paper is presented in the hope that discussion and work toward consensus can help create focus among key decision makers and the community. Once key priorities are established, we can start filling gaps while improving the continuum of care already in place. In the summer of 2024, NewSpring Church asked Reid Lehman, former CEO of Miracle Hill in Greenville, to lead a conversation about possible solutions to homelessness in Anderson. Community leaders emerged to create the Task Force Seeking Solutions to Local Homelessness. The Task Force met twice in 2024, once in January 2025 and again in March, to set priorities and discuss recommendations. United Way of Anderson County is proud to be involved with the Task Force.

Download the Homelessness White Paper.

Scope of the Problem

We now know that at least 5,390 men, women, and children experienced homelessness in Anderson County in 2021-2022. A third of this population are children; about 25% are seniors. While not all people were homeless at the same time nor homeless for the entire year, this total allowed us to assess our county’s current resources and identify the gaps. We found prevention is the most effective and least expensive way to contend with homelessness. Our current mix of programs to move people from homelessness to housing isn’t effective for our different mix of people experiencing homelessness. There are effective ways of investing, short term, to prevent homelessness long term.

United Way's Impact

Since the United Way of Anderson County hosted the Housing Instability and Homelessness Summit, we’ve been actively collaborating with both non-profit and for-profit organizations to address these critical issues.

Here’s an update on the partnerships and initiatives that have resulted:

·     January 2024: $20,000 was distributed to four organizations: AIM, Rebuild Upstate, Emmanuel’s Hammer, and Salvation Army, with each receiving $5,000.

·     July 2024: $83,000 was awarded to local organizations focusing on housing initiatives including AIM, Rebuild Upstate, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Upstate Warrior Solutions, Vets Helping Vets, and HOPE Mission of the Upstate.

·     Mortgage and Rent Protection Event: United Way hosted an event with Joe Sangl, offering free participation for clients of partner organizations.

·     Additional Funding: $5,000 each was provided to Emmanuel’s Hammer, Rebuild Upstate, AIM, and Habitat for Humanity for a total of $20,000.

·     Disaster Relief: $54,500 was allocated to organizations assisting low-income homeowners affected by storms, including Emmanuel’s Hammer, The LOT Project, Rebuild Upstate, and Habitat for Humanity.

·     AIM Rent and Mortgage Assistance: $10,000 was allocated for assistance.

·     The Village Home Project: UWAC was the fiscal agent and supported the second transitional housing program at The LOT Project; overseeing the distribution nearly $80,000 in financial and in-kind donations. This was a project in partnership with the Leadership Anderson Class 39 of the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce. A family has already moved in to that home.

·     FEMA Grant: Local organizations can apply for funding through a FEMA grant managed by UWAC.

United Way of Anderson County is proud to support the organizations doing vital work to assist our community. Thank you for your continued support in helping our most vulnerable neighbors!