Tiny home project for Aiken homeless put on hold

AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) — Tiny homes for the homeless. Aiken city leaders have been discussing it for a while. Aiken County recently approved homes less than 450 square feet — clearing the way for Arbor Ridge, with 45 tiny homes and a support center.

“There’ll be some, a matter of three months to accomplish their goals. There’ll be some more complicated, that will take maybe a year, the absolute maximum. We plan on being two years,” Vice President of Aiken County Homeless Housing Gary McGuire said.

It would sit on four acres — near the Aiken Center, mental health services, and the hospital. “We’ve looked for a long time, done our due diligence, and we believe that it is the best site close that is closest to the services that’ll be needed, that we could find,” he added.

“They’re talking about possibly up to 75 homeless, walking up and down this road,” Terry Dennis said.

The project is paused while Aiken County Homeless Housing meets with neighbors. Some support it. Others worry about safety and property values. “I got two houses here and I won’t be able to rent ’em if they have all this over here, nobody will move in and I won’t be able to sell ’em either,” Robert Smith shared.

“School bus goes up and down this road and the homeless don’t have anywhere to go. There’s no sidewalks,” Dennis added.

She says there are other options — like Hanh Village or Salvation Army property. “They could invest over there and put ’em there. They have the Clyburn Center. The city police which would be over this, it’s closer to the police station down there. And they have a job within a mile walking distance.”

Aiken County Homeless Housing is meeting with neighbors. A new meeting with Aiken City Council could happen in 30 to 60 days.