State lawmakers propose housing local homeless population in old naval base

State lawmakers are proposing a new plan to house the Charleston area’s homeless population.

Filed in the state House of Representatives Wednesday, a resolution cosponsored by Reps. Wendell Gilliard and Joseph Jefferson aims to “organize a concerted effort to use the old Charleston Naval Base as a site for housing for homeless persons” in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.

Citing the growing number of homeless individuals in Charleston County, the resolution recommends that Gov. Nikki Haley and the mayors of municipalities located in the tri-county area meet to formulate a plan to use the former base located in North Charleston as a source of shelter for those living outdoors.

A spokesperson for the City of North Charleston says the city has “not been consulted with” regarding the resolution.

The resolution does not go into specifics regarding a timeline in which the plan should be implemented, but does say that it is an immediate concern that must be acted upon quickly due to the harsh weather conditions and crowding of shelters that occurs during the winter months.

The resolution currently resides in the House Committee on Invitations and Memorial Resolutions.