One80 Place, the local nonprofit dedicated to ending and preventing homelessness, has launched a new Eviction Prevention line through the United Way Association of South Carolina's 2-1-1 phone service. Now, renters in the Charleston area who are at risk of being evicted from their homes can dial 2-1-1 from any phone and be connected directly to a One80 Place representative who can help them navigate their next steps, connect them with no-cost legal assistance and access other supportive services.
The new phone system is one way One80 Place is implementing the Eviction Protection Program (EPP), an initiative of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which started during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent evictions from reaching the courts and diverting existing cases from formal legal proceedings. One80 Place is one of 21 other agencies nationwide to receive the grant to implement the two-year program, which began in 2021.
One80 Place has partnered with SC 2-1-1 for several years to operate the Housing Crisis Line, which has become widely used across its service area by individuals who are experiencing homelessness and need immediate support. The new service line will build upon that success.
“The new Eviction Prevention line will allow our team to intervene at a critical point before an individual loses their housing, when we have an opportunity to help them stabilize financially and potentially avoid eviction,” said Stacey Denaux, Chief Executive Officer of One80 Place. “Understanding the rules and procedures of the eviction process can be confusing and overwhelming, but people do not have to navigate it alone. All they have to do is dial 2-1-1 and we'll be there to help.”
One80 Place's Court Navigators will receive referrals through the Eviction Prevention line to help callers connect to supportive services based on individual needs.
One80 Place is collaborating with South Carolina Legal Services, Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services and Charleston Legal Access to provide legal representation and expand housing courts in Berkeley, Dorchester, Richland and Lexington counties.
