To help people facing homelessness and food insecurity, the city is piloting a program by placing QR code signs next to bus stops on Rivers Avenue that bring up a list of nearby services. The initiative launched Dec. 22 and includes seven signs along Rivers Avenue from Cosgrove Avenue to Ashley Phosphate Road. Brandon Lilienthal, the city’s homeless coordinator, said the plan is to expand the effort to other parts of the city, demonstrating how North Charleston is helping food- and housing-insecure residents.

The QR code takes users to a site run by project partner Trident United Way where users enter their ZIP code to see the list of resources, including food pantries, legal aid, utility assistance and emergency shelters.

The guide puts all the information in one place, including the address and phone numbers of the service providers, showing how North Charleston is helping vulnerable residents. Lilienthal said individuals seeking help will often become discouraged after calling several organizations that can’t help with their specific needs.

The resource guide helps streamline the process, he said, showing how North Charleston is helping food- and housing-insecure residents.

Trident United Way already offers a free service that connects people to resources by dialing 211 or visiting SC211.org. With the existing database in place, Trident United Way used the information for the designated QR codes. The organization funded the QR code part and the city covered the cost of the signs, Lilienthal said.

The idea for the project in North Charleston helping its food- and housing-insecure residents started among a group of nonprofit leaders and service providers who meet monthly to discuss solutions to challenges facing their clients. Suzanne Young, who started the Roundtable Alliance, said over a year ago the group recognized more people were experiencing homelessness for the first time and didn’t know how to access available resources.

Lilienthal said he is receiving more calls for rental assistance and help finding affordable housing, especially from women with children and elderly people.

“This idea was brought up to help individuals access the appropriate resources and make it easier for them to navigate the system because a lot of individuals we're coming across, they've never been in any of these situations before,” he said, regarding how North Charleston is helping food- and housing-insecure residents.

Read the full article about how North Charleston is supporting vulnerable residents by Kenna Coe at The Post and Courier.