A town hall meeting in Horry County became heated as residents and mental health advocates debated the location of a proposed mental health facility in the Oak Arbor neighborhood. Asha Vista Behavioral Institute plans to open a 78-bed facility in a former assisted living center in front of the neighborhood, following a settlement agreement with Horry County. Some residents expressed concerns about safety and property values. One resident stated, “Let them sue us. I would rather spend my tax on dealing with it that way then finding a place where people can really heal.”
Competing Claims on Treatment Bed Availability
Asha Vista argues the facility is needed due to a lack of treatment beds in the area. However, Gina Waller, director of the Lighthouse Behavioral Health Hospital, disputed this claim, stating, “At Lighthouse, we have 105 acute care stabilization beds… we are never full.” Fran Sauvageau, CEO of Asha Vista, responded by noting, “There aren’t enough beds for this population, especially in the south stretch.”
Next Steps
During the meeting, Asha Vista representatives agreed to work with residents to address safety concerns. The Horry County Council is set to vote on the proposal on February 3.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://wpde.com/news/local/horry-county-mental-health-facility-oak-arbor-neighborhood-asha-vista-behavioral-institute