Hundreds of Columbia families displaced by dangerous gas leaks. Here’s how to help

Hundreds of residents were ordered out of a public housing complex Jan. 18 after authorities found two men dead in separate apartments and “multiple” gas leaks throughout Allen Benedict Court.

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said in a news conference last week that though what killed the two men — Calvin Witherspoon Jr., 61, and Derrick Caldwell Roper, 30 — was still being determined, officials believed the cause to be a fatal gas leak. When Columbia Housing Authority officials reviewed other units in the 26-building complex, they discovered more gas leaks and ordered 411 residents to vacate their units.

“As we went through building after building ... we discovered that multiple units have gas leaks,” Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins said. “ ... We view this as an immediate danger to life.”

Now the displaced residents are spread out in hotels, motels and other housing arrangements that they paid for or the CHA is paying for while it investigates the leaks. Some residents had to leave Allen Benedict Court without even basic necessities.

Riverside Community Church, which has a longtime relationship ministering to children who live at the public housing complex, is stepping in to help. WIS News reports the church is collecting gift cards to give to indefinitely displaced ABC residents in order to help them purchase clothes and cover other costs.

Gift card donations can be dropped off at the following Columbia locations:

• Bluestein Attorneys — 1614 Taylor St.
• Indah Coffee — 2238 Sumter St.

Allen Benedict Court is more than 80 years old, and is run by the Columbia Housing Authority. It is located off of Harden and Laurel streets in Columbia.

Riverside Community Church is located at 2925 Devine St. The church phone number is 803-250-5469

This story was originally published January 21, 2019 at 7:59 AM.