Nov. 17, 2020 • Volume 23, Issue 22 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
WEAR A MASK!
INSIDE • Annual Christmas Parade to be held in reverse 12A • Rescue seeking to help dogs needs help too 16A • Nearly native Blufftonian has rich history here 18A • USCB arts center gets creative with seating 26A • Bright Ideas grants go to teachers 28A
Current homeless situation might be a calm before the storm By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
As 2020 heads to 2021, one grave situation in Beaufort County and across the country will be realized as residents impacted by the pandemic face their greatest challenges: eviction and homelessness. “I think a lot of people are struggling but it’s all happening behind the scenes. They’re struggling at home, in their car, at a hotel,” said Ben Boswell, administrative manager of the Beaufort County Human Services Department. “I think we will be seeing an increase in homelessness at the beginning of the year. I know that none of our agencies have seen an upsurge, but they have seen an increase in people asking for food.”
Boswell said that local data in 2019 indicated there were 68 homeless or transient households, consisting of 126 individuals countywide. Add to that number those who were “housing insecure” – about to become homeless or were living with friends or family – and the number jumped to 371 households or 939 people. Out of those 939 individuals, 291 were children (infants to age 17) and 114 were seniors (age 60 and older). According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a person is considered homeless only when he or she resides in one of the places described as follows at the time of the count: An unshel-
Please see HOMELESS on page 8A
COURTESY FAMILY PROMISE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY
A family that was once homeless found help, support and services through Family Promise. They have since moved into a new home.
Prescription assistance program moves to new location The Med-I-Assist program, a prescription assistance program formerly offered at the Bluffton Community Center, 141 Goethe Road, has relocated. The new location is St. Andrews Parish Hall, 220 Pinckney Colony Road. The program, a 501(c)(3) organized in 2004, is staffed by volunteer patient advocates
and is financially supported by local charities. Med-I-Assist is designed to provide emergency prescription assistance through local pharmacies to citizens unable to afford their prescription medication, and enroll those with long-term prescription needs to pharmaceutical-prescription assistance programs. Med-I-Assist also offers medical transpor-
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tation, referrals for eye examination, and purchase of eyeglasses to those in need. Recently, the program added vouchers for flu shots for those without medical insurance. The Med-I-Assist program target population is the uninsured, unemployed, under-employed and underinsured. The program works in partnership with Beaufort-Jas-
per-Hampton Comprehensive Services, Inc. and Volunteers in Medicine, referring clients who need immediate medical attention and/ or a primary care doctor. The office is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. by appointment only. For more information, call 843-7574818.