Commission hears start of Charleston consolidated plan process; officials seek public input on housing and homeless services

Rebecca Dale, deputy director for housing and community development, told the Charleston City Human Affairs and Racial Conciliation Commission that the city is beginning its consolidated plan process for 2025–2030 and is actively soliciting public input through an online and paper survey.

Dale said the consolidated plan will set five-year strategic goals for affordable housing, homelessness services and community development and will guide annual action plans and federal funding allocations. “The consolidated plan is really a framework for affordable housing, community needs. It sets the strategic direction for the next five years,” she told commissioners.

The department has posted an online survey and distributed paper copies at service providers. Staff said outreach includes visits to neighborhood associations and to the Hope Center to gather input from people experiencing homelessness. Dale said the city will combine survey responses with Bloomberg data and will select a consultant via an RFP process; the consultant selection was under way the week of the meeting and a draft plan timeline projects submission to HUD-related processes around July 2025.

Dale described the federal funding sources that flow through the consolidated plan process: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA). She described subrecipient programs that receive those funds, including critical home repairs, gap financing for affordable developments and homelessness services.

The commission heard specifics about the Gateway to Housing program, a partnership that lowers common landlord barriers for people experiencing homelessness (eviction history, lack of deposit) and provides case management. Dale said the city allocated $200,000 in HOME funds to support deposits and move-in costs for the initial Gateway cohort and that the program’s partners include nonprofit landlords and Neighbors Together.

Commissioners raised questions about survey outreach and visibility. Dale said the survey was available on the housing and community development website and that staff were circulating the QR code and attending neighborhood meetings; the draft consolidated plan will be posted for at least 15 days of public comment.

Commission co-chair comments during the meeting also covered the Lowcountry rapid housing plan and Union Pier redevelopment. Co-chair Steven emphasized the regional nature of the housing and homelessness challenge and urged commissioners to encourage county and municipal partners to join the rapid housing plan. Commissioners discussed equity concerns including displacement risk for longtime residents and whether services proposed in the rapid housing plan would accommodate women and families.

Next steps: the department will continue community outreach, finalize a consultant selection, compile survey results and circulate a draft consolidated plan for public comment. The commission requested a follow-up presentation on Gateway to Housing performance data after the program goes live.