Together we can house a person in need!
HOW WE GOT STARTED
During Fall of 2012, Prasanna “Elvis” Eswara spent a season homeless, soul searching and in an effort to imitate his Lord and Savior. One night, while he was asleep in the trunk of his car he heard two gun shots and woke up. He realized what a blessing it was to have a safe place to call home, observed the plight of the homeless and felt called to start the House of Peace with a servant heart. Today, House of Peace offers housing to our neighbors in need for low weekly and monthly rates.
OUR MISSION: To house our neighbors in need for and through the love of Christ.
OUR VISION: To collaborate with community partners and facilitate a place of refuge that can enrich our guests spiritually, financially and socially as they transition.
Background
The National Center on Family Homelessness estimates that there are approximately 1.5 million homeless children in the United States and homeless families make up 34% of the homeless population.
The 2014 Homeless Count conducted by the Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless (MACH) identified 1,014 homeless individuals in Richland County and 174 homeless in Lexington County and reported that 25% were in families with children. As of January 23, 2014 Point in Time Homeless Count by the South Carolina Coalition for the Homeless (SCCH) found 5,040 homeless adults and children. Among them 18% were victims of domestic violence and 36% reported having physical disability or mental illness.
In 2012-13 school year Richland County School District One identified more than 1,000 homeless students attending their schools and the South Carolina Department of Education identified 11,436 homeless students in schools across the state. Based on test scores, the National Center on Family Homelessness estimates that the high school graduation rate for homeless children in South Carolina is less than 25%.
Why do families become homeless?
Lack of affordable housing, low wages, domestic violence, physical and mental health issues, and substance abuse are some of the main reasons people become homeless. In Columbia, a full-time worker needs to earn $14.29 per hour or work 79 hours per week at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the Fair Market Rent according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.