Written By Equal Justice Works Housing Fellow Dontae James Appearing for a court date can be a stressful experience, but understanding the process and familiarizing yourself with what to expect can help to alleviate that stress. In this guide, we discuss a few things to keep in mind before heading to court for your case. What to Wear Dress for success – not distress.  First impressions are key in a court-room setting, and credibility is inherently tied with appearance. When appearing for your court date, wear what you would wear to a job interview or Sunday dinner with your family. For m ..read more

Hello! My name is Bridget Brown, and I am honored to be speaking with you as the new Executive Director of SC Appleseed. For nearly six years, I have worked at SC Appleseed — serving first as a staff attorney and for the past two years as Deputy Director. Throughout my time at SC Appleseed, I’ve witnessed firsthand the value and impact our organization has on the community we serve. I am so thankful to be a part of such an influential organization, and excited by the opportunity to lead our incredible team. This past December, we met as a team to discuss our priorities for 2024 and the drivi ..read more

By Emily Blackshire-Giel, EJW Housing Fellow Attorney at South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center The impact of having a criminal record can permeate into every part of a person’s life. Over the next month, we’ll be exploring the different ways the criminal justice system makes it difficult for individuals to stabilize and return to everyday life. For the first blog in our three part series, our EJW Housing Fellow Attorney Emily Blackshire-Giel discusses how many South Carolinians are either unhoused or living in poor conditions due to having even a single conviction. Housing insecurity i ..read more

“I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t take a bath. I can’t walk around barefoot. They’re all over my clothes and making me sick.” While having a roof over your head often is a signal of stability, for Edith and her family it’s been anything but that. From bugs to lack of repairs to inconsistent answers from management, her life in public housing has been in constant turmoil. “This place is messing people up mentally, physically, emotionally,” she says about her home.  One of the common issues with public housing is the lack of maintenance to the structure. When investment and support for a ..read more

Tenants who are struggling to get their landlord to make repairs, especially repairs materially affecting the health and safety or physical condition of their property, should send their landlord a letter regarding the landlord’s duty to fix the property (per SC Code Ann. § 27-40-610). This is called a 14 Day Letter. When writing a 14 Day Letter, a tenant is putting their landlord on notice that something major is wrong with their apartment and their landlord has a duty to fix it. Tenants should list clearly every problem they are facing in their letter: if there is a growing black substance ..read more

“My situation throughout life really has been around substance abuse and mental health,” says Michelle. “I have worked long periods of time, been able to maintain jobs so on and so forth… been able to take care of myself, live on my own, had money, so and on and so forth. But with substance abuse, mental health, and relapses, it was kind of back and forth, back and forth.” Born and raised in South Carolina and currently living in Irmo, Michelle explains that her substance use began in her teenage years, at first experimenting with marijuana and alcohol, which then led to illicit drug use and a ..read more

“They were passing out evictions like ice cream in South Congaree,” says Tonia. Tonia lives in Richland county – at least, she is trying to.   It was just a couple of years ago when she suddenly was forced to move away from her home on Farrow Road. Desperate for a place to go, she heard through her friends about a mobile home property that was available. This property, though unstable due to deplorable conditions, was home for Tonia and her household for nearly two years, until major news broke out that changed everything. Early in 2023, Tonia’s landlord was forced to close her properties ..read more

“My situation throughout life really has been around by substance abuse, mental health,” says Michelle. “I have worked long periods of time, been able to maintain jobs so on and so forth… been able to take care of myself, live on my own, had money, so and on and so forth. But with substance abuse, mental health, and relapses, it was kind of back and forth, back and forth.” Born and raised in South Carolina and currently living in Irmo, Michelle explains that her substance use began in her teenage years, at first experimenting with marijuana and alcohol, which then led to illicit drug use and a ..read more

Maya is an aspiring entrepreneur and mother of three. When we spoke with her, her youngest had just turned 4 months old. Over the years she’s worked many jobs: she was a certified nursing assistant, she worked in hospice care, and she’s done rehabilitation and home health. She found her passion as a bakery assistant though and now dreams of opening her own bakery.  She also has her hands full with her kids. With an almost three-year-old, a one-year-old, and a new baby, being a mom is a full-time job on its own.  As a new mother, Medicaid has allowed her and her children to access vit ..read more

Amara recently shared the difficulties she has faced as a tenant facing eviction. As she continued to share her experiences, it became clear that challenges with her landlord were not the only issues that she has had to overcome. From housing to healthcare, a variety of issues often go hand in hand. And for Amara this has certainly been true. This is her story.     “I hate not working. I hate that. I have to do something with myself. I do want to work.”    As a mother of three, Amara has a lot on her plate day-in and day-out. She not only has her children but is often ..read more