In furtherance of his recently-unveiled 10 point plan to close Charleston’s “Tent City” and help those living there find shelter and permanent housing, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg today announced the formation of the Homeless to Hope Fund, a nonprofit vehicle that will allow area citizens, businesses and others to contribute to the effort. The fund will be co-chaired by Charleston-area businesswoman Linda Ketner, Palmetto Project executive director Steve Skardon and Morris Brown AME Church pastor Charles Watkins, Jr.

Tecklenburg said:

As the world has seen over the past year, Charleston is a special place, a place where hope and faith and unity and grace are more than just words. These are the values that we as a community live by. And that’s why this fund is so critical. It provides a way for our citizens to come together once again to help those who are most in need, and to ensure that the organizations, faith groups and individuals that are leading this effort have the resources they need to make widespread homelessness a thing of the past in our city.

Tecklenburg closed by thanking the fund’s co-chairs:

On behalf of all the citizens of Charleston, I’d like to thank Linda, Steve, and Rev. Watkins for co-chairing the Homeless to Hope Fund. They are real leaders in our community, and we’re deeply grateful to them for stepping forward to lead this effort.

Homeless to Hope Fund contributions are tax-deductible, and can be made by governments, corporations, nonprofits and concerned citizens. Donations can be made online at www.homelesstohopefund.org or by mail at: Homeless to Hope Fund – Palmetto Project, Post Office Box 21287, Charleston, SC 29413.