Securing housing is a 'nightmare' for those who are homeless. A North Charleston nonprofit is helping.

"The idea is to try to make this successful for everyone," Young said. "The tenants will have stable housing, and the landlords will have stable tenants and the social service providers will have resources."

Gateway to Housing has been in the works for nearly two years. The program has received $237,257 from the city of Charleston’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, a federal grant administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and $200,000 from Charleston County’s American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Tenants are approved through a case management system and work with a case worker throughout the placement process.

Gateway to Housing is not a rental assistance program, which means tenants have to pay the full monthly rent out of pocket or through a voucher, if accepted by the property owner. Because the program will have a network of available inventory, potential tenants will be matched with a place that fits their needs and budget.

Jaymes McCloud, the CEO of property management company J. H. W. Enterprises, said the prospect of this housing model is a "game changer" for Charleston's housing crisis.

When a property owner joins the Gateway to Housing network, they receive a sign on bonus and additional financial incentives from the program each time a barrier is removed, such as eliminating a credit score requirement or excusing prior evictions. McCloud said these financial incentives provide security for property owners and will reduce many upfront costs.

A mitigation fund will also cover costs if property damages occur or a tenant leaves before the lease is over.

Gateway to Housing is based off the low barrier housing model that started in Nashville by Lizzie Goddard, who previously worked as a coordinator for the city's homeless division. Goddard now provides consulting services to help similar programs get off the ground, including the one in Charleston.

Nashville's Low Barrier Housing Collective began in 2021 in response to the city's homeless crisis and the need for a centralized hub for service providers and property owners to access, said April Calvin, the director of Nashville's Office of Homeless Services. Additionally, the program provided a formal way for property owners to lower barriers, she said. More than 280 property owners are a part of the network in Nashville.