Alliance
Greenville has made investments in addressing unsheltered homelessness, but even with these resources, there remain challenges. The GVL iGNITE Fund is part of the Greenville Homeless Alliance Housing Navigator pilot that is working to address gaps in available resources by supplementing clients’ incomes for stable housing. Many Greenville residents who experience chronic homelessness have Social Security Income (SSI), a consistent, non-varying amount of money coming in monthly. The 2024 monthly maximum Federal amount for SSI is $943 per month for an eligible individual or $11,316 per year. At that income, the affordable rent rate of 30% of an individual's gross income is $283 per month. The 2024 one-bedroom fair market rent for the Greenville metropolitan area according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development is $1074/month. This ongoing financial gap is leaving people on our streets who yearn for a safe home of their own with few to no options.
United Ministries’ Place of Hope Associate Director of Homeless Services, Nick Bush, describes the GVL iGNITE Fund as having the latitude to be flexible and adaptive. That means the funds are not bound by the strict statutory regulations that come along with federal funding. These regulations can disqualify applicants due to a previous eviction, felony criminal record(s), or a history of misdemeanor charges.
Stable housing is known to reduce the overuse of public services like hospitals, jails, and emergency shelters, thus providing cost savings to the community. The GVL iGNITE Fund is helping evaluate the effectiveness of unconditional housing under the guidance of dedicated organizations like United Ministries and professionals like Nick. The fund was developed after extensive research by the Greenville Homeless Alliance of initiatives in cities like Charlotte, NC and organizations like the Lotus Campaign which were finding solutions to homelessness.
One heartwarming success story is that of Alan, a born and raised Greenville County resident, who benefitted tremendously from the GVL iGNITE Fund. Before the intervention, Nick Bush says, “Alan had been homeless for over 14 years, struggling with the challenges of finding affordable housing on his SSI income. Through the GVL iGNITE Fund, Alan received the necessary supplemental income to secure a stable, safe, apartment. Moreover, Alan was provided with holistic support including day services at United Ministries Place of Hope along with mental health counseling from United Ministries. Alan’s journey to stability also includes addiction recovery support from Miracle Hill Ministries and ongoing recovery support from FAVOR Upstate. This connected system of support has significantly improved Alan’s quality of life.
Today Alan is not only stably housed but also working with Nick Bush through the EMPath approach which helps with economic mobility, savings, education. Alan’s primary goal is to have his criminal record expunged. Pro-bono legal services offered through Time Served is helping him work toward a pardon. Nick Bush says, “Once his background is cleared, his barriers for housing would essentially be eliminated.” Don Austin is an example of someone who had his record expunged after moving off the streets. He is featured in the SEEN | HEARD | VALUED mural to help the public understand that homelessness is solvable.
As reflected in the story above, the GVL iGNITE Fund is designed not only to address the immediate housing needs but also to foster sustainable improvements in the lives of Greenville’s most vulnerable populations, significantly reducing the reliance on public services and contributing to overall community welfare. As the GVL iGNITE Fund moves forward, with ongoing evaluations and community collaborations, it seeks not only to provide immediate assistance but also to catalyze long-term change in the way our community supports its most vulnerable members. Your support can make a real difference. Contributions to the GVL iGNITE Fund enable transformative interventions that provide stable, safe homes and a new beginning for many. Join us in igniting hope and rebuilding lives in Greenville.
Here’s how you can join us in igniting change:
Give a one time or monthly donation to the GVL iGNITE Fund (special offer until 12/31/24)
In 2023, GHA partnered with the Piedmont Health Foundation to hire DeAndra “DJ” Hillman as GHA’s Housing Navigator for Greenville County. The ignite fund was created to help people experiencing chronic homelessness (more than one year) move into stable housing. Working together with frontline service organizations, landlords, and GHA’s Housing Navigator, the GVL iGNITE Fund can be the missing piece that completes the housing puzzle for someone working to exit homelessness.