The Truth About Homelessness in Downtown Anderson

At The LOT Project, we are passionate about making Anderson better for everyone: the unhoused, the small businesses on Main Street, the university students, the working poor, the churches, the families. We also recognize that there are often false narratives being spread that are actively hurting our community. Many Andersonians believe that the majority of the unhoused population is being brought in from other counties and states, taking away resources from the locals. While I cannot speak for what any individual has personally witnessed, I can confirm that the data we collect at The LOT Project does not line up with this theory. See below for a look into the last five months of service at The LOT Project. According to the self-reported data from our guests, at least 78% of the people we have served since October are from South Carolina. Even more notably, 66%—nearly two-thirds—of the total number of individuals are from Anderson County specifically, suggesting that Anderson is not attracting nomads who are already experiencing homelessness but that our longstanding residents fall into homelessness. Thus, this data not only contradicts the false rumors but also highlights the importance of strengthening our network of supportive resources.

While I try my best to be an advocate for the unhoused, I also recognize that the truth is, there are bad actors. In full transparency, I have worked with this population for four years, and I can remember many times that I have gone home after work and wondered why we should help at all. In the last three years, around 30 of our guests have been placed on trespass notice or suspension from our services because of their behavior. Honestly, our staff runs a tight ship. We believe the concerns shared by local business owners, and even more so, we relate to them and agree that something needs to be done to make Anderson safer. However, we also must not let the 30 represent the total. In the last three years, while we have had issues with 30+ people, we have served 1,500+ unique individuals total, meaning that only about 2% of our guests have broken rules significantly enough to result in trespass notice or suspension.

So, what do we do? What is the solution? How do we help the homeless on the street corner and the business owner balancing compassion with responsibility? As many know, there is a group called the Anderson Homelessness Task Force working hard to prayerfully determine what the next best step is. This group published a Homelessness White Paper in June of last year, which can be read here. While many have stated that Anderson has too many resources, we have a shockingly low shelter capacity. Not having a roof over one’s head makes life remarkably more difficult, often leading our unhoused down paths that they may have never taken otherwise. For more information about this effort, refer to the White Paper.

Additionally, many Andersonians experiencing poverty are stuck in circumstances here when they would be better served elsewhere, but travel is expensive. Over the last year and a half, we’ve had the privilege of helping several individuals reach new opportunities outside of Anderson through our Traveler’s Aid program. The Anderson County Council recently awarded The LOT Project a $4,500 grant to expand this effort, significantly increasing the number of people we can serve. Traveler’s Aid works to reunite individuals with family by restoring communication and arranging transportation—whether by purchasing tickets or driving them to their destination. It’s one of my favorite programs at The LOT Project, and it truly benefits everyone involved.

Another important aspect of keeping Anderson healthy is preventing people from ever becoming homeless. So far, we have found that the most effective way to do this is through rent and utility assistance, followed by case management. We work closely with many families in the Alphabet Streets through our Artisan Gardens program. Last year, the United Way graciously gave us $15,000 to help this neighborhood stay housed. This generous gift has allowed our staff to help meet needs when people have no other option. Most often, with this fund, we are assisting single mothers who do not have a strong support system otherwise.

While there are many different ways we could make Anderson better, I truly believe one of the most helpful things we can do first is listen to each other. Two things can be true at once. Yes, we should help our unhoused neighbors. Yes, there are unhoused people who have hurt Anderson businesses, and that needs to change. Spreading false narratives on Facebook does nothing but hurt all of us and divide us more. Unity comes from a balance of grace and truth. We believe that Jesus calls us to lovingly hold one another accountable and freely offer grace. As he says in Matthew 25: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the Least Of These my brothers, you did it to me.’”

Our name, The LOT Project, is inspired by this passage. We are all the Least Of These at some point in our lives, and when we serve each other, we are serving Christ. We are all sons and daughters of the same God. The least we can do is seek to understand each other.

If you read all the way through, thank you for taking the time to listen. I love Anderson, and I believe in its future. I’m so grateful that God has led me to live and work here. If I could ask anything of you, first, I would ask you to pray for provision for this beautiful city. Second, I would ask you to get to know your neighbor. If you tend to side more easily with the unhoused, support our local downtown businesses and get to know the owners and employees. Vice versa, if you tend to side more easily with the businesses, strike up a conversation with one of our guests at The LOT Project. If we see the good in each other more, maybe there will be a day when there are no sides at all—just people wanting the best for their home.