Homelessness in Augusta is a growing issue

Hundreds of people in Augusta are living day to day without a home. Homelessness has been an issue for several years in Augusta and those at the Housing and Community Development (HCD) have been working hard to help those in need. 

Officials at the HCD believe there are over 700 people that are homeless in Augusta and that number is steadily increasing. There are a few resources in the area to help people that are homeless, like the Salvation Army Center of Hope. However, that shelter holds less than 200 people, leaving hundreds of others without a place to rest their heads. 

Daniel Evans, Housing and Community Development Planning Development Supervisor, says the homelessness issue should not come as a surprise.
"It’s a major issue and it’s not unique to Augusta, I think it’s not a bold statement to say there’s an affordable housing crisis nationwide, rents continue to climb; wages and job opportunities continue to stagnate… that is an irreconcilable difference between your ability to provide housing for yourself without any form of assistance."

According to Evans, official studies across the country over the years have shown that getting people back into housing is first to improve the areas that caused the breaks in their life is an effective solution. "It’s much more long-term effective…So, we’re investing in programs like our rapid rehousing that seem to shorten the amount of time that someone is evicted or may find themselves for whatever reason without a place to stay. We try to shorten the amount of time they spend out on the street or in an emergency shelter."

Those at the Housing and Community Development say they recognize the issue of homelessness in Augusta and realize it’s an ongoing problem and they are doing their best to make those suffering from the condition, whole. 

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