Homeless Services Ad Hoc Committee

HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 The Homeless Services Adhoc Committee will conduct a meeting on Thursday, September 18, 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 CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. April 8, 2025 Homeless Services Adhoc Committee Meeting Minutes COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 2. Update on Homeless Services Blueprint - Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services COMMUNITY PARTNER PRESENTATION 3. Citizens for Accountability on Homelessness - Mr. Andy Burns EXECUTIVE SESSION 4. Receipt of legal advice relating to matters covered by attorney-client privilege pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2) • Homeless Services ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 1  1 MEETING DATE: September 18, 2025 DEPARTMENT: City Clerk FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk SUBJECT: April 8, 2025 Homeless Services Adhoc Committee Meeting Minutes FUNDING SOURCE & ORIGINAL BUDGET: ATTACHMENTS: • #a: HSAC_MN_040825 (DOCX) Updated: 9/17/2025 9:47 AM Page 1 Packet Pg. 2  1.a HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 CALL TO ORDER The Homeless Services Ad Hoc Committee conducted a meeting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at City Hall (Mayor’s Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201. The Honorable Will Brennan, Chair called the meeting to order at 1:01 p.m. Attendee Name Title Status Will Brennan Chair Present Aditi Bussells Member Present Tyler D. Bailey Member Present APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. January 7, 2025 Committee Meeting Minutes - Approved Upon a motion made by Dr. Bussells and seconded by Mr. Bailey, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the January 7, 2025 Committee Meeting Minutes. Ms. Teresa Wilson, City Manager thanked City Council members for their leadership and participation with the Point in Time Count. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION 2. Update on Recommendations from the Taskforce to Prevent and End Homelessness Report - The Honorable Aditi Bussells Dr. Bussells provided an update on recommendations from the 2022 Taskforce to Prevent and End Homelessness, which focused on addressing the needs of chronically unsheltered individuals, especially older adults or those no longer eligible for other services. A third party categorized available resources and most recommendations have been implemented. The City of Columbia applied those recommendations with opening the Overflow Shelter during emergencies and developing Rapid Shelter Columbia. There has been collaboration with community partners to strengthen support for the unsheltered population. Page 1 of 4 Packet Pg. 3  1.a HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services reported that the City of Columbia is a member of the Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless (MACH), with staff member Nyasia Franklin serving on the MACH Board and others joining various committees. The city has partnered with Christ Central at Hope Plaza for a coordinated meal-sharing program, which is financially supported by the city and remains non-religious. This partnership enables other service providers to offer additional resources. There was discussion about the benefits of the collaboration with Christ Central; development of Homeless Services; and identifying additional funding opportunities through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 3. Point-in-Time Count Summary – Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services – Received as information. Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services explained that United Way of the Midlands and MACH are separate entities, with MACH serving as a funding source for the Continuum of Care. She shared data from the Point in Time Count, which covered 13 counties. HUD will release the data with further explanations. The count recorded 1,423 people experiencing homelessness, including 334 chronically unsheltered, 760 with disabling conditions, 132 veterans, and 198 survivors of domestic violence. However, some areas like downtown Columbia and rural regions may not be fully represented in the numbers. There was discussion about partnering with neighboring local governments; an increase in chronic homelessness; and access to data as MACH members. There was consensus of the committee to receive follow up from staff about best practices for data driven application. 4. Operational Update and Recommendations – Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services Ms. Teresa Wilson, City Manager shared that funding for homelessness has nearly reached $4 million, with $1 million from the general fund and the rest from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Almost $500,000 has been allocated for opioid-related initiatives. She emphasized that partnerships are crucial to making continued progress. Page 2 of 4 Packet Pg. 4  1.a HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services shared that the action plan to allocate $1 million began in 2012 and remained unchanged until a director of homeless services was hired. We are currently conducting a thorough review of all services to determine the most suitable options for implementation. There was a discussion about funds given towards Homeless Services ten years ago in comparison to today; allocation of funds amidst governmental uncertainties; innovative forms of funding; and HUD secretary’s ideas to better serve communities. 5. Homeless Services Blueprint and Next Steps - The Honorable Will Brennan – Received as information Councilor Brennan recommended bringing in a nationally recognized consultant to evaluate how the city and county can best support the unsheltered population, even with current budget constraints. Ms. Teresa Wilson, City Manager confirmed that a consultant will be hired to conduct an assessment and provide actionable recommendations. The selection process is expected to conclude by June, with the program set to launch in July and run through January. Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services outlined a strategic blueprint for the next six to twelve months. In June, the city will revamp the corridor initiative as a pilot program, supported by a dedicated community liaison who will monitor partner involvement and coordinate intake efforts. The program will officially launch in July, with a strong focus on transparent communication with stakeholders. In August, the consultant will present their findings, which will inform the development of a strategic plan. By November, Homeless Services will begin implementing the consultant’s recommendations. There was discussion about the need to define expectations for the consultant during the procurement process; the importance of transparency; pilot program development; and the necessity of bringing in an expert consultant to guide long- term planning and implementation. Page 3 of 4 Packet Pg. 5  1.a HOMELESS SERVICES ADHOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2025 EXECUTIVE SESSION Upon a motion made by Dr. Bussells and seconded by Mr. Bailey, the Committee voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session at 1:52 p.m. for the discussion of Item 6. 6. Receipt of legal advice relating to matters covered by attorney-client privilege pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2) • Homeless Services ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:02 p.m. Respectfully submitted: Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC City Clerk Page 4 of 4 Packet Pg. 6  2 MEETING DATE: September 18, 2025 DEPARTMENT: City Clerk FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk SUBJECT: Update on Homeless Services Blueprint - Ms. Kameisha Heppard, LMSW, Director of Homeless Services FUNDING SOURCE & ORIGINAL BUDGET: Updated: 9/15/2025 2:52 PM Page 1 Packet Pg. 7  3 MEETING DATE: September 18, 2025 DEPARTMENT: City Clerk FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk SUBJECT: Citizens for Accountability on Homelessness - Mr. Andy Burns FUNDING SOURCE & ORIGINAL BUDGET: Updated: 9/15/2025 2:55 PM Page 1 Packet Pg. 8  4 MEETING DATE: September 18, 2025 DEPARTMENT: City Clerk FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk SUBJECT: Receipt of legal advice relating to matters covered by attorney-client privilege pursuant to S.C. Code §30-4-70(a)(2) FUNDING SOURCE & ORIGINAL BUDGET: PURPOSE: Homeless Services Updated: 9/15/2025 2:46 PM Page 1 Packet Pg. 9