Despite its reputation as an idyllic pastoral setting, rural Oconee County suffers from a homeless problem which, for the most part, remains invisible. An estimated 300+ individuals, of which at least 117 are children, are identified annually as homeless in the Oconee County area. 

It is not the overt homelessness you expect to find in larger metro areas such as Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco. You will seldom find people sleeping in doorways or panhandling in the streets. It is a quiet crisis of people making their way between family, friends and churches. When their support network wears out, they are most likely to seek shelter in a car, an abandoned or condemned building, a camper, or substandard housing.

Who Are They?
Studies comparing urban and rural homeless populations have shown that homeless people in rural areas are more likely to be white, female, married, currently working, homeless for the first time, and homeless for a shorter period of time. Other research indicates that families, single mothers, and children make up the largest group of people who are homeless in rural areas.

According to a recent study by the National Coalition for the Homeless, families with children comprised 33% of the homeless population.  Research indicates that families; single mothers and children, make up the largest group of people who are homeless in rural areas and the proportion is likely to be higher than 33%. These  families are most commonly headed by single mothers in their late 20’s with approximately two children.   

In 2003, children under the age of 18 accounted for 39% of the homeless population; 42% of these children were under the age of five. School-age homeless children face barriers to enrolling and attending school, including transportation problems, residency requirements, inability to obtain previous school records, and lack of clothing and school supplies.

But that is not to discount the problem of homelessness among single males. This is a growing concern here in Oconee County, especially among military veterans. According to recent statistics, approximately 40% of the homeless males in our community have served in the Armed Forces.   

Reasons for Homelessness
In a study of 777 homeless parents (the majority of whom were mothers) in ten U.S. cities, 22% said they had left their last place of residence because of domestic violence. In addition, 50% of the 24 cities surveyed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors identified domestic violence as a primary cause of homelessness. Studying the entire country, though, reveals that the problem is even more serious. Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence. South Carolina ranks in the nation's top states for domestic violence incidents and the Upstate is among the highest areas in South Carolina.

One of the biggest causes of homelessness among men appears to be job loss. Over the last two years, more than 5,500 workers across Oconee County have found themselves out of work. The county now has the second highest unemployment rate in the state.

The Problem Continues to Grow
The Upstate Homeless Coalition indicates a more than doubling of assistance requests since 2006. As the local economy continues to transition from traditional manufacturing to high-tech and specialized production, the numbers of displaced workers – and homeless families – is expected to climb.