Men's Transitional Apartments

In May, Crisis Ministries entered into a partnership with the City of Charleston Housing Authority to offer four transitional apartments to Trans dorm guests who have shown significant readiness for community–based housing. Located next door to the shelter, on the corner of Huger and Meeting Streets, the apartments offer a private living/bedroom and efficiency kitchen with a shared bath.

Guests will continue to have weekly case management and house meetings and activities will expand to include home management and increased independent living. After nine months of living in the Transitional Apartments, participants become eligible for Section 8 housing which opens up many additional housing opportunities.

This partnership was made possible by the anonymous gift of a family foundation and by the in-kind donations of a newly formed group called Charleston Charity (www.charlestoncharity.org). All of the furniture was donated and the men will be able to take it with them when they move out.

The first Trans Apartments resident moved into the apartments on May 8th. Mr. Jenkins became homeless in late 2004. He has been a successful participant in the Transitional program since last year.

Ms. Bell moves to Seven Farms Apartments

At 77 years old, Ms. Bell’s only income is her Social Security payment.  Until early March of this year, she lived with her daughter on James Island. Most of Ms. Bell's income was spent on her monthly prescriptions. According to Ms. Bell, her daughter was unhappy with the living situation and verbally abused her on a daily basis.  During this time, Ms. Bell felt worthless and suicidal.  One day, she packed a bag and checked herself into Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health to seek mental health assistance. 

After being stabilized, Ms. Bell was sent to Crisis Ministries. After a few weeks of working with Jeff Yungman, her case manager at Crisis Ministries, Ms. Bell learned that she qualified for $150 more in Social Security benefits each month. 

In late April, Ms. Bell was approved for a one bedroom home at Seven Farms Apartments on Daniel Island.  The complex, a project of the Humanities Foundation, offers apartments for individuals and families who qualify as low-income.

At Seven Farms, Ms. Bell is close to a grocery store and other community resources that enable her to live on her own. She is thrilled with her new living arrangement.  She states that “The people at Crisis Ministries really listened to me when no one else would.  Being homeless was a dark time in my life, but Crisis Ministries provided the light to get me through it.”

For more information on Humanities Foundation’s affordable housing properties, visit www.humanitiesfoundation.org.