Community collaboration empowers families through an innovative tiny-home community.

FLORENCE, SC / ACCESS Newswire / August 17, 2026 / Florence 1 Schools (F1S) and House of Hope of the Pee Dee invite community members, civic leaders, and local media to celebrate a landmark collaborative milestone at the official groundbreaking ceremony for Hope Village on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM.

The ceremony will take place at 1511 N. Douglas Street, Florence, SC 29501, marking the official commencement of construction on the new Hope Village development. This initiative pairs House of Hope's existing Hope Village model with district resources to provide support for district families who are experiencing homelessness.

"Homelessness is not just a housing issue - it is a community issue," said Florence 1 Schools Superintendent Richard O'Malley in a previous statement on the partnership. "As a school district, we see firsthand how instability affects our students' ability to learn and thrive."

Event Summary

• Event: Hope Village & House of Hope Douglas Street Groundbreaking

• Date & Time: Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM EDT

• Location: 1511 N. Douglas Street, Florence, SC 29501

• Hosts: Florence 1 Schools & House of Hope of the Pee Dee

Florence 1 will build, own, and maintain the community, including the individual homes, the common-area building, and the playground that will be on the property.

House of Hope will provide support services to residents, including helping them access pre-vocational and employment assistance, peer counseling, facilitating connections to health services, providing adult education referrals for parents/guardians, and creating an individual self-sufficiency plan for each family. House of Hope will also provide meals for residents and nighttime security for the community.

Florence 1 Schools serves nearly 16,000 students across Florence, South Carolina, and is committed to academic excellence, innovative career-technical training, and community partnership under the core motto "Students First."

To learn more about Florence 1 Schools, visit www.f1s.org.

House of Hope of the Pee Dee is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing shelter, resources, and hope to individuals and families facing homelessness in the Pee Dee region through emergency shelter, transitional housing programs, and holistic support services.

For more information on House of Hope, visit www.hofh.org.

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Media Contact: Melissa Rollins
Phone: (843) 758-6037
Email: marketing@f1s.org

SOURCE: Florence 1 Schools