Homeless numbers on the rise in the Columbia [Video]

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia leaders are seeking feedback from organizations, businesses, and community members as they address the growing homelessness problem across the city.

“We’ve had a lot of individuals who come into our facilities, most of the time it’s overnight shelters,” said Marlo Brayboy, interim executive director at Oliver Gospel Mission.

Brayboy noted that the number of homeless people seeking services has increased over the past few years, with 895 individuals served last year alone.

“Our transitional housing on that side of the house, we saw roughly about 100 individuals with that, and so those individuals have been the ones who have come into the transitional piece trying to find a job and/or housing,” Brayboy said.

Mayor Daniel Rickenmann has been hosting public input forums with organizations like Oliver Gospel Mission to gather input on a proposed centralized service …