MORE Justice demands action on gun violence, affordable housing
On Monday, April 4, the Midlands Organized Response for Equity and Justice (MORE Justice), a diverse interfaith organization of 26 congregations throughout the Midlands, held their 5th annual Nehemiah Action Assembly at 6:30 PM at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention. The event brought together hundreds of community members to advocate for best practices concerning affordable housing and gun violence.
Rev. Carey Grady of Reid Chapel AME Church and David Lee of Shandon United Methodist Church discusses the scourge of gun violence.
Columbia currently ranks in the top 10 of the nation’s eviction rates, with Richland County having an average of 19 evictions every single day. Moreover, more than 16,000 households in Richland County pay more than half of their income on rent and utilities, and this makes it nearly impossible to supplement the cost of other necessities like food, medical expenses, and transportation. Like air to breath and food to eat, housing is a basic human need.
Affordable Housing Trust Funds are a proven strategy used in more than 750 communities across the nation to create housing affordable to those most vulnerable. The Trust Funds use local public money to spur the creation or rehabilitation of affordable housing to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.
Richland County is getting $80.63 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and that money must be spent on the greatest needs in our community for long-term sustainability and stability and the creation and rehabilitation of safe, affordable housing must be a core part of where the County invests these funds.
In 2021, gun violence in Richland County DOUBLED with 32 total murders by gunfire. There have been 19 homicides in Columbia so far this year with 11 of them due to gun crime, which is as many homicides as all of 2021. MORE Justice is asking for a solution that works.
For more information on the work of MORE Justice, visit http://www.morejusticecolumbia.org.
