Jailed homeless to receive aid in Horry County

"We want to reduce the constant flow of the homeless population to the jail," 

 By Tonya Root – [email protected]

South Carolina-The state’s first correctional program to aim therapy and substance abuse treatments at homeless inmates is expected to be launched in Horry County by July.

County officials announced Thursday that a Conway firm has been selected to provide the therapy and substance abuse treatment programs for inmates at J. Reuben Long Detention Center, as part of a program to reduce recidivism rates.

     This is the first phase of a four phase process," Fox said Thursday after John Weaver, Horry County’s acting administrator, approved a contract with Life Recovery Solutions LLC for the jail diversion program.

"The underlying cause, the reason they are homeless, is because of substance abuse problems," Fox said.

Representatives from Life Recovery Solutions could not be reached Thursday for comment. Eddie Hill, a chaplain and inmate program services coordinator at J. Reuben Long, said the firm will have representatives at the jail working with sentenced inmates to prepare them for release, and to help them combat substance abuse problems.

"They get them the social services they need and the help they need so instead of being problems they become a help to society," Hill said. "I’m excited about it, and it’s going to save money in the long term."

Fox said the program is expected to begin by July 1. Participants will be housed in a separate section of the detention center’s minimum security facility, he said.

Participants in the programs, which would take about two years to complete, will have to be screened, officials said.

Horry County expects to use a $190,000 Development Block Grant to fund the program, which includes $170,000 that was awarded Thursday to Life Recovery Solutions. About $20,000 will be used to design construction changes at the center for the program.

Officials hope to eventually use grant money to build a transitional housing unit so once participants complete the program and serve their sentences they can move into the housing to continue the program.

"We want to stop that revolving door," Hill said.

An average of about 50 inmates housed at the detention center are homeless and repeat offenders who could be recipients of the program, Fox said.

"We want to reduce the constant flow of the homeless population to the jail," Fox said.

"The city of Myrtle Beach has been very proactive to address homeless needs and this is the county’s first endeavor."

Contact TONYA ROOT at 444-1723.