Charleston County is home to the state’s first Housing Court, which began in October 2019 as a pilot project established by this S.C. Supreme Court order.
In 2016, North Charleston experienced the highest rate of eviction in the United States with 16.5 out of 100 renters. The national average was 6.53 per 100. In that same timeframe, 10.03 households per day were evicted, according to this post by SC Legal Services.
These factors prompted the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission to petition the S.C. Supreme Court to form the first ever housing court in South Carolina, and the pilot program launched in Charleston County. The program depends on volunteer attorneys. One80 Place Legal has developed the below training and resource manual to assist volunteer attorneys with work in the Housing Court Pilot Project. The SC Bar Pro Bono Program is proud to partner with One80 Place Legal in these efforts.