Growing homeless camps spark concerns in Fort Mill community

FORT MILL, S.C. — Community members are expressing concerns after more people without homes have been moving into the wooded areas of Fort Mill.

Experts said inflation and a lack of affordable housing are behind the camps that have been popping up.

Channel 9 reporter Tina Terry delved into how severe the problem is and what agencies are reaching out to help.

Victor Wilson said he has lived in the area for 25 years and just noticed people without homes moving into the nearby woods over the past few months.

“This is a new problem,” Wilson said. “Not only are they out here, but they’re also on Cherry Road camped out under the bridges as well.”

Alexandra Greenawalt, executive director of Pathways Community Center, said many factors have led to the spike in homeless camps in Rock Hill, Lake Wylie and Fort Mill.

“Wages, the cost of inflation, and the cost of homes,” Greenawalt said. “It’s playing a big role in why we’re seeing more encampments popping up in the community.”

This month, Greenawalt said she and other advocates for people without homes will be starting a special outreach program for people living in the camps.

“We’ll have coordinated efforts of teams going to encampments, connecting to build rapport and give them hygiene. And also connect them to resources,” Greenawalt said.

Greenawalt said many shelters in the area are at capacity, so non-profits are working with city and county leaders to push for more affordable housing.

“We know that building more emergency shelters is not the solution,” Greenawalt said. “What we’re doing is advocating with city and county and folks that have available land and empty lots to allow us to do more affordable housing units. That is the solution for both our community and Charlotte as well.”

Greenawalt said officials are still working on a specific plan to address affordable housing issues.

The time frame of those plans has yet to be announced.

(WATCH BELOW: ‘Sad situation’: Homeless encampment near NoDa grows, along with residents’ concerns)

‘Sad situation’: Homeless encampment near NoDa grows, along with residents’ concerns

©2022 Cox Media Group