News Release

Mayor John McCann Statement in Response to the Chimney Cove Neighborhood

August 26, 2022

The Town of Hilton Head Island is aware of the displacement of the residents living in the Chimney Cove neighborhood. We have been monitoring the situation and are in contact with several community organizations. Our hearts go out to those families who are being displaced and we are committed to being a part of the solution.

As a community, we will continue to face scenarios like the Chimney Cove situation, which challenges us to be creative in addressing our housing issues. We are blessed to have some truly amazing non-profits, religious organizations, businesses, and individuals who have come together to find ways to help.

• Christ Lutheran Church and the Deep Well Project have established funds to accept monetary donations that will be used to help with relocation costs, storage of belongings, and rental deposits.
• The Beaufort County School District, which confirmed that 76 school-aged children live in the neighborhood, is providing counseling and working on ways to minimize the impact of this situation on those children.
• Lowcountry Legal Volunteers is helping residents understand their rights and options.
• Yesterday, we learned about an individual who has made his short-term rental property in the South Forest Beach area available to one of the impacted families on a long-term basis and at the same rental rate they were paying in Chimney Cove - $1,400/month.

We appreciate these organizations and others that have stepped forward. Their efforts are great reminders of who we are as a community - generous, compassionate, and willing to help our neighbors in difficult times.

Town leadership continues to take steps to address housing concerns. We are making progress on our workforce and affordable housing initiative on the Northpoint tract near the north end post office. In addition, Town Council will meet with several organizations and community leaders to brainstorm short- and long-term solutions on Tuesday, September 6, at 9 am. at Town Hall.

I encourage all of us to find ways to be part of the solution.