In March 2003, Governor Sanford appointed George Gintoli, State Director of the Department of Mental Health, as the official contact for South Carolina to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. The first South Carolina Council on Homelessness was convened in November 2003 with the goal of improving the service delivery system for homeless individuals and families in South Carolina.

The Council is comprised of key leadership agencies that provide services and funds to homeless individuals, programs or organizations. The purpose of the council is to provide the leadership and cooperation necessary for an integrated approach to addressing the comprehensive needs of homeless individuals and families.

The South Carolina Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit, volunteer organization, is now responsible for the annual homeless point-in-time count and responding to state and federal homelessness policies.

• South Carolina Coalition for the Homeless website