Booming SC city meets to talk criminalizing homeless. Here’s what happened next

A coalition of organizations designed to reduce homelessness in Greenville has found homes for nine people in the first six weeks of its operation, Cody Carver, executive director of Greenville Together told Greenville City Council.

Carver said five more have been identified and 78 property owners in the city have signed on to provide housing.

One family that had lived in their car discovered all their belongings had been auctioned off for failure to pay. The community responded with donations of furniture as well as bicycles for their children, ages 14, 10 and 7.

“They have a front door they can lock,” Carver said.

Greenville Together gets support from United Way, United Housing, United Ministries and Triune Mercy Center. The city of Greenville has donated $500,000 to the organization.

Carver’s presentation was made after City Councilman John DeWorken updated his proposed ordinance that would prohibit camping or sleeping in public spaces, plazas, and parks.

DeWorken said in an email, “There is still a lot of work to do on the ordinance, including working closely with Greenville Together and other homeless service providers on language, before the ordinance comes back up before City Council.”

“These are human beings. These are our citizens,” he said during the council meetiing..

The agenda for the meeting specified no decision was to be made and none was proposed during the meeting. The council chamber was full, and two people spoke in favor of a humane response to homelessness.

Justin Cagle, who volunteered at Triune Mercy Center for years including as chair of its board, said the ordinance as proposed was unfair, especially if fines are assessed.

He asked how they could pay fines when they can’t afford housing.

The ordinance was proposed in June, when more than a dozen people in a packed council chamber with overflow into the entrance expressed dismay at the possibility of criminalizing homelessness.

Carver told the council Monday misconceptions about unhoused people include that they don’t want help or that they are addicts or mentally ill. He said of the 20 people referred to his organization so far, one has declined help.

“They had no reason to believe anyone is going to help them,” Carver said.

He also estimated about half of the homeless suffer from drug or alcohol addiction or mental illness but it is uncertain whether it occurred before or after an always traumatic life on the streets.

Sometimes the causes of homelessness are as simple as not having a security deposit or bad credit. One person they’ve worked with had a $300 past due utility bill from 2018.

This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM.