“They’re trying to push all the homeless people away.” Myrtle Beach axes boardwalk benches

After the City of Myrtle Beach received complaints from business owners about people occupying benches for long periods of time, the city removed benches from the boardwalk and promenade area of Myrtle Beach early July.

Mark Kruea, the City of Myrtle Beach spokesperson, said the city was looking into “new seating that will allow people to enjoy the boardwalk without creating any issues.” The project on the boardwalk is expected to be completed by November.

One complaint was from an approved vendor who sets up on the boardwalk, who said the bench behind her was always occupied.

“It’s a little bit like parking spaces, where creating turnover is a good thing,” Kruea said. You want people to be able to use the benches (spaces) without monopolizing them.”

Stephanie Southworth, a Coastal Carolina University professor who runs a transportation program for people experiencing homelessness, said that there was a high volume of police arrests in the boardwalk area in the past four months for loitering. However, these arrests did not include any violent or disruptive behavior associated with it, such as public intoxication.

“This is just one more way to criminalize activities associated with being human,” Southworth said.

Earl Taylor, a Myrtle Beach native experiencing homelessness, said that the city’s zero tolerance loitering policy was so strict, you couldn’t sit or lean on something for more than five minutes.

“If they chase you off, where else are you supposed to go?” Taylor said. “They’re trying to push all the homeless people away.”

There are only a few places in Myrtle Beach for people experiencing homeless to go and rest due to most public areas enforcing a no loitering policy, and many businesses doing the same.

The removal of benches, which affects tourists as well, is one small matter in the ongoing homelessness crisis in Horry County. Out of all counties in South Carolina, Horry County had the highest population of homeless people in 2020, with 589 unsheltered out of 807 total.

Joey Smoak, the president of the Eastern Carolina Housing Association, said that he knew the removal of benches at the boardwalk was a problem.

“That’s where a lot of [homeless people] sleep, so we know it’s an issue,” Smoak said.

One systemic issue contributing to the homelessness crisis in Horry County is a lack of affordable housing and skyrocketing rent prices.

The average one bedroom apartment in Myrtle Beach now costs almost $1,600 according to rent.com, which is a +21% annual change.

Even for someone who is experiencing homelessness and has a job, rent is not affordable.

Along with the lack of affordable housing, several shelters in Horry County are at full capacity, including both the women’s shelter and the family shelter at New Directions, according to CEO Kathy Jenkins.

“If removing benches on the Boardwalk affects the homeless in any way, they can come to New Directions’ walk-in center on Osceola Street,” Jenkins said.

New Directions has three different shelters in Myrtle Beach. One for women, one for men, and one for families, as well as programs that assist people with self-sufficiency.

The Community Kitchen, a non profit organization, serves breakfast and lunch everyday and is located at 1411 Mr. Joe White Avenue.