Watch: Organization Has New Name and New Initiatives to Help Homeless

Richland Co., S.C. (WOLO) — New research shows that 80% of families in Richland County that receive help for homelessness won’t re-enter the system

Kaneesha Jones is quickly approaching her one year work anniversary, but rewind just a few years and you’d find her in a much different situation.

She tells ABC Columbia, “We came here from Charleston West Virginia hoping to just better our lives. Life doesn’t always go as planned and we ended up being out on the street.”

With three daughters depending on her, Jones says staying on the streets was not an option.

She explains, “It was just a challenge everyday. I thought about giving up but looking to my children, I had to find strength.”

According to new data collected by the University of South Carolina, Jones is one of more than 4,000 people in Richland County to use Homeless services since 2004. Numbers that exceed the county’s capacity.

Walker McKay, Chairman of the Trinity Housing Corporation’s Board of Directors says, “If we could snap our fingers and have 5,000 additional units they would be take up in 30 days.”

Additionally, the research reveals different types of family homelessness requiring specific styles of intervention.

So Trinity Housing Corporation is adopting the name Homeless No More and introducing four new initiatives aimed at closing the gap.

“Emergency services, transitional housing, affordable housing and building a community bridge,” elaborates McKay.

Increasing housing options and addressing new needs in an effort to get more of the Midlands’ back on their feet.

“I’m looking into home ownership, I’m working on that right now and just moving forward with my children never letting them lack for anything,” says Jones.