09/24/2026
We have been studying homelessness in Myrtle Beach for a decade in order to better advocate for services for people who are homeless and to break down stereotypes. At each step of the way, we have involved our students in the research process so that, as future leaders, they can be more informed. Below is a summary of our findings. You can see the full report as well as updates on the work we are doing at:https://www.coastal.edu/media/2024siteassets/contentassets/documents/CCIHomelessnessResearchReport-HorryCounty2016-2026.pdf
Key Findings in structured interview data
• Emergency shelter capacity is limited, and CCI participants repeatedly describe remaining outside when an emergency bed is unavailable or when existing program requirements do not fit their circumstances.
• Homelessness and employment frequently overlap. In the 2016-2026 structured interview dataset, 108 of 338 respondents with completed employment data (32.0%) were working, while 212 of 312 respondents with completed housing-search data (67.9%) were actively seeking housing.
• Housing barriers are not limited to lack of income. Participants describe high housing costs, seasonal or unstable employment, deposits, identification and documentation problems, transportation, disability and health limitations, criminal records, and long waits for housing assistance or an available unit.
• Health and functional limitations are common in the 2016-2026 interview records. Among completed responses, 120 of 163 were coded with a disability indicator, 77 of 155 with a breathing/lifting/walking limitation, and 206 of 295 with a mental-health indicator.
• Participants repeatedly identify showers, laundry, bathrooms, secure storage, a reliable mailing address, phone charging, transportation, and clear information about where to obtain help as practical needs while they remain unhoused.
• The qualitative data describe substantial use of public and semi-public spaces for resting, sleeping, transportation, communication, and access to services. Participants also describe being moved, cited, or arrested in those spaces and being identified as homeless because of backpacks or visible belongings.
• Women, people with disabilities, people with significant health or behavioral-health needs, people who are working, people without identification, people with criminal records, and people seeking shelter in Conway appear repeatedly in the research as groups for whom available options may not adequately fit their circumstances.
• The 2026 interviews reinforce earlier findings about restrictive shelter schedules, transportation delays, gendered concerns about shower access, difficulty obtaining medication, public-space displacement, and the importance of services that people can use without first meeting multiple program conditions.
