Advocacy & Policy

Community-Driven Advocacy & Policy Change

We believe effective change starts with listening to the community.
Our advocacy work is rooted in survivor voices, data-driven research, and cross-sector collaboration. We help bridge the gap between community and service providers by partnering with local agencies, law enforcement, social services, and academic institutions, to ensure our policy solutions address real needs—and lead to meaningful results.

Domestic Violence Advocacy

In Spring 2024, we hosted a Domestic Violence Forum, convening advocates, legal professionals, and public service agencies to hear survivor stories, share resources, and assess gaps in victim support.

Forum Takeaways:

Temporary Housing: Need for a new DV shelter to serve the Tri-County area
Educate the public: Share statistics, survivor experiences, and policy gaps.
Advocate for change: Push for stronger protections for survivors and better enforcement of existing laws.
Better Collaboration: Partner with police, solicitors, and victim services to improve responses to domestic violence cases.

Outcome: In August 2025, just over one year after the forum, we opened the Palmetto Hope Women’s Shelter.

Read the D.V. Forum Summary

Gun Violence Prevention

^{Tri-County Gun Violence Coordinating Council (GVCC)}

Formed after the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting, the GVCC brings together law enforcement, medical professionals, gun owners, advocates, educators, and faith leaders to find common ground on reducing gun violence in the Lowcountry.

What We Did

Hosted a four-part public panel series to examine the local impact of gun violence.
Convened stakeholders from across the full spectrum—ER doctors, coroners, police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, Moms Demand Action members, responsible gun owners, educators, and clergy.
Gathered and analyzed community feedback and data with academic partners.

Takeaways & Action: The GVCC forums led directly to three major outcomes that are now saving lives and reshaping local systems:

Read the GVCC Forum Summary

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Policy Win

South Carolina Bond Reform Act

The 2024 Bond Reform Act is a major policy win achieved through GVCC-led advocacy.

Signed by Governor McMaster in June 2023 and enacted on July 1, 2024, this critical legislation closes a dangerous legal loophole that allowed repeat violent offenders back onto the streets. This reform is a direct result of our collaborative efforts through the GVCC. The new law keeps individuals incarcerated pretrial if they are rearrested for a violent crime or felony offense involving a firearm while already out on bond for a similar offense—a major policy victory for community safety.

Public Service Announcement

Lock-It-Up Campaign

At the GVCC forum, we heard from police about the rising rates of gun theft from vehicles and accidental gun deaths by minors.

North Charleston is ranked top 5 in the nation for gun thefts from vehicles.
Since January 2022, over 400 firearms have been stolen from vehicles in North Charleston alone.
In the past 18 months, over 108 guns were stolen from unlocked cars in Charleston County.

The Solution: We launched a public safety initiative to promote safe gun storage.

The Lock It Up Campaign aired on local radio stations, urging safe firearm storage to prevent theft and accidents.

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Victim Services Hub

Navigational Center

The Navigational Center was created to address gaps in victim services identified during the GVCC panel series.

The Center provides a centralized hub connecting survivors of violence with wraparound services, improving coordination and care.

Our Navigation Specialists collaborate with law enforcement agencies, social service providers, and policymakers to strengthen victim support and prevention efforts.

Americans die in acts of gun violence every year

more shot and injured

American women have been threatened with a gun by an intimate partner

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Get Involved

Palmetto Hope Network is creating real, sustainable change through research, collaboration, and community-driven action. Here’s how you can contribute:

Attend a Forum:
Join the conversation. Participate in upcoming forums and help shape the policies that affect your community.

Support Policy Advocacy:
Help us push for stronger domestic violence and gun violence policies. Sign petitions, contact legislators, and share our advocacy resources.

Donate:
Your support enables us to host forums, drive policy change, and support survivors.

Fighting for Safer Communities Through Advocacy & Action