In an effort to help students and families who face significant challenges to academic success, the Charleston County School District’s McKinney Vento program is hosting its “Serving the Unhoused and Underserved” event this weekend. The program, designed to provide support to families facing housing instability, will feature resources from 60 community agencies aimed at helping them overcome barriers to success.
Offering Free Services and Resources
This Saturday’s event will offer a wide range of services, including free health screenings, back-to-school vaccinations, food demonstrations, giveaways, and employment opportunities. Additionally, families will have access to assistance for utilities and rent. The event is designed to help ease the burdens that many families facing homelessness or housing instability experience, allowing them to access essential services in one location.
MUSC’s Role in Supporting Families
One of the agencies participating in the event is the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Dr. Cristin Adams, an Assistant Professor with the MUSC Department of Family Medicine, shared the hospital system’s ongoing efforts to support the unhoused population in Charleston. “We provide in-person and telemedicine-based care to the unhoused in Charleston, and we’ve partnered with Charleston County School District now for a few years to specifically focus on the care of unhoused children and families,” Dr. Adams explained.
At the event, MUSC will offer adult screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, hypertension, and diabetes. Children will also have the opportunity to receive necessary vaccinations before registering for school. Dr. Adams emphasized the many challenges that families facing homelessness deal with on a daily basis, such as securing a place to stay and finding food. “People who are struggling with housing instability have so many competing priorities…especially if you can imagine it’s a family with children,” she said.
Addressing Health Challenges for the Unhoused
Dr. Adams noted that healthcare often falls to the backburner when families are dealing with housing instability. Chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, can go unnoticed without regular medical attention, which many families are unable to access due to factors like homelessness and lack of transportation.
MUSC’s partnership with the Navigation Center in Downtown Charleston has been instrumental in providing primary care and health screenings to the unhoused community. “The Navigation Center is to help support our vulnerable families, our unhoused and people with unstable housing. We’re kind of like a base camp for folks that really don’t know where to turn,” said Marie Elana Roland, Executive Director of the center. The Navigation Center acts as a resource hub, connecting families to a range of services to help them regain stability.
Event Details
The “Serving the Unhoused and Underserved” event will take place on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Charleston Regional Stadium, located at 3659 West Montague Avenue in North Charleston. The event will be held rain or shine, and Live 5 Anchor Shelbey Roberts will be hosting the event. It promises to be an invaluable resource for families in need, providing them with the tools and support to thrive despite the challenges they face.
This weekend’s event is a great example of how community organizations can come together to support vulnerable families, helping them overcome obstacles and access essential services. The McKinney Vento program, alongside partners like MUSC and the Navigation Center, is working to ensure that children and families facing housing instability have the resources they need to succeed.
