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Residents urge action on homelessness, Colleton Avenue safety and overdose response at Aiken council meeting
Summary
Multiple residents and faith leaders called for expanded homelessness services, rapid-shelter and transitional housing, and safety changes on Colleton Avenue; one speaker cited more than 256 overdoses last month in Aiken County and urged increased Narcan distribution and transportation support for care.
At the Aug. 11 Aiken City Council meeting, several residents and local faith leaders used the public-comment period to press the council and community for more robust homelessness services, safer streets along the Colleton Avenue promenade and expanded overdose-response efforts.
Dr. Rose Hayes, a resident who said she served 20 years as a federal public-health and safety officer, urged the council to address pedestrian safety on Colleton Avenue and its side streets. She described the promenade as historically designed with few sidewalks and said nonlocal traffic — including large trucks, speeding cars and motorcycles performing wheelies — has created hazards for pedestrians, joggers, people pushing strollers and others who use the arboretum and greenway. "For the safety and health of people using Colleton and its side streets, I recommend implementing, posting and monitoring a 15‑mile‑an‑hour speed law, just as the city has done for the Horse District," she said.
Pastors and community volunteers emphasized homelessness services. Pastor Lex Barry of C4 Impact asked the community to support transitional and bridge housing and described training his group has taken (including mental-health first aid) to work with people experiencing homelessness. Jacob Ellis and other speakers urged adoption of a tiny-home or rapid-shelter model like programs the speakers said are succeeding elsewhere.
Kirk Johnson, a resident, described community transportation efforts (a "recovery ride" program to take people to appointments) and noted "we had over 256 overdoses last month" in Aiken County and two fatalities. He said local churches are carrying Narcan and working to make it broadly available.
Council members thanked speakers and acknowledged both the outreach events and concerns about siting of initial tiny‑home units in District 2; they said multiple locations are under consideration and pledged continued dialogue.
No formal council action on homelessness programs was taken at the meeting; council members who spoke encouraged continued coordination between the city, faith groups and county partners.
