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New women’s transitional recovery housing asks city for support; council highlights opioid‑recovery and rapid‑shelter funding
Summary
Three leaders of the new Columbia program 'When You Can't Cope There's Hope' described a 12‑month, women‑focused recovery housing model and requested city partnership and funding; council noted opioid‑recovery allocations on the consent agenda and said staff will connect providers with homeless‑services leadership.
Leaders of a new women‑focused transitional recovery housing program, When You Can't Cope There's Hope, told Columbia City Council they provide structured, long‑term (12‑month) recovery housing, case management and employment support and requested city recognition, referrals and help accessing funding.
Founder and executive director Jacqueline Chisholm described screening, curfews and recovery‑focused programming and asked the city to partner and coordinate referrals. Intake coordinator Nicole Gitteron provided statewide context: "In South Carolina, over 45,000 residents need substance use treatment," and said in 2023 the state lost "2,157 lives to overdoses," arguing a local recovery housing program is a high‑value prevention investment with measurable returns.
Council members pointed to items on the consent agenda funded by South Carolina Opioid Recovery money and encouraged the group to speak with the city’s homeless‑services director for referrals and potential funding. City staff also noted recent donations to the Rapid Shelter program (the Criminal Justice Academy presented $2,722) and that funds on the agenda will fund peer‑support salaries and naloxone distribution through local partners.
