The HoSEA Program is a collaboration among four partner congregations that was created to address Greenville’s eviction crisis by pooling funds and intervening with rental assistance for families facing eviction—so they can continue making payments as they normally would.
The idea for this program came out of meetings I had with local pastors, where we noticed an unusual increase in requests from the community for rent assistance. Yes, requests for utility help have also gone up, as our Local Relief Team can attest, but rental assistance continues to rise. In those conversations, we often noted that a congregation’s typical “maximum” assistance—a few hundred dollars—can’t stave off eviction. One time, someone said, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just pool our money in one account? Then we could actually help someone avoid eviction!”
One year later, we have pooled and raised almost $50,000, which has been leveraged to help nearly 30 families avoid eviction and regain financial footing, allowing them to resume making their payments themselves.
The HoSEA Program is not only about pooling our funds and resources—it’s also about pooling our wisdom and compassion. Currently, four congregations (First Baptist, Christ Church, St. Michael’s, and Fourth Pres) and two nonprofits (United Ministries and Triune Mercy Center) work together to intervene in the eviction process for families who need a little help stabilizing their housing situation. The HoSEA Team—volunteers from the congregations—shepherds candidates through the application process, while case workers from the nonprofits provide professional vetting and official recommendations.
How You Can Help:
• Know someone facing eviction? Invite them to visit: firstbaptistgreenville.com/assistance
• Volunteer to serve on the HoSEA Team
• Help spread the word
—Matt Rollins, Minister of Community Engagement