Debra Green was on her way to drop off some paperwork at Aiken County Department of Social Services building on Park Avenue in Aiken, but once she arrived the building was closed.
While making her way to the the other DSS location in North Augusta, her car broke down in Burnettown.
Running out of options, Green spent the afternoon trying to figure out how she could send paperwork via email.
Green is one of many people in Aiken who has been feeling the impact of the building's closure after a March 5 fire caused damage at the Park Avenue location.
Green said the building's closure has not just become an inconvenience for her, but also for other people who use the department's services in Aiken.
"I had no idea that it was closed," she said.
Aiken County officials don't have a timeline when the building will reopen and people have been asked to go to the other DSS office, which is located in North Augusta and about 25 minutes away from Aiken.
The damaged building is shared by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
It was determined that the fire was caused by an electrical issue. Aiken County Administrator Brian Sanders said even though the fire began in the attic, parts of the building had smoke damage and repair could take several months.
Sanders said smoke remediation is currently underway.
The impact
“It was a hard time trying to send in and I am having a hard time trying to send it through email,” Green said.
Green said having the service in the immediate Aiken area would have been better than in North Augusta because some people don’t have reliable transportation.
A spokesperson with DSS said the closure has not directly impacted how their clients receive services. Information about the closure includes signage at the location and on social media.
The spokesperson also said clients could access applications for services, such as SNAP, TANF, child care scholarships and establishing child support services, online.
In regards to staff, the agency’s operations and technology teams have been working to relocate them temporarily to the North Augusta office and allowing staff who are already out in the field, such as investigators, case managers, licensing specialists and other mobile staff, to continue their usual work while out in the community.
"There is no disruption in service,” Christine Wright, who serves as Aiken County DSS director, said in an email.
What’s next
Sanders said there are plans to get portions of the building that was damaged by smoke to be occupied in a few weeks.
“We are still working through the insurance process and getting estimates,” Sanders said.
About 50 of the 85 DSS professionals who use the Park Avenue location have been temporarily reassigned to the North Augusta office and local providers, nonprofits and the county library are assisting clients during the closure, the agency's spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the children and youth in foster care will have visitations at existing facilities in the North Augusta office, parks, community spaces and local churches. The spokesperson said services will not be impacted because DSS professionals working the cases are always out in the community visiting youth in foster care and their families.
The spokesperson said those needing assistance for applications and recertification can leave the information at the 24-hour drop at the Park Avenue location and SNAP interviews will be completed over the phone.
Jeff Leieritz, who serves as the spokesperson for South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, said people can got to another location on 2361 South Centennial Ave., Building 2, Suite B or can go online at apply.scdhhs.gov.
They also can call Healthy Connections Medicaid Member Contact Center at 888-549-0820 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or via fax at 888-820-1204.
