Welcome to the neighborhood!

The city of Columbia has many wonderful neighborhoods where students call home during their time at USC. Our office is dedicated to providing resources for students and community members to support livability off campus. If you are a student, we hope being a part of the Columbia community will contribute to your experience at USC, with the expectation that you uphold the Carolinian Creed and abide by the Student Code of Conduct.  For the latest information concerning Covid-19, please visit the Novel Coronavirus webpage. 

 

Tips for Positive Neighbor Relations

Being proactive, friendly and communicative can establish a great foundation for building positive relationships with your neighbors.

Expand allIntroduce yourself.

Welcome new neighbors in person or with a note as soon as possible. Invite new neighbors to a neighborhood gathering or exchange phone numbers. Meeting your neighbors is a great way to begin building a positive community.

 

What to share:

Offer your new neighbor important neighborhood information such as trash and recycling schedules, noise and parking expectations, and other resources your neighborhood provides. Suggest they share this information with any roommates so everyone is aware.

Exchange contact information.

Share your contact information and ask for theirs in case you need to communicate with one another to solve problems or express concerns before depending on outside intervention such as the police.

Make your expectations clear.

Share your expectations and experiences by letting neighbors know when you need sleep or quiet. Let them know what activities or noise level is not appropriate and when you may be prompted to contact police.

Show what it means to be neighborly.

Model neighborly behavior and they will be more likely to return the goodwill. Let students know that you are willing to share resources and provide support, whether it’s a hammer, a cup of sugar or advice.

 

Report Problems When They Occur

How to address problems involving neighbors:

1. If at all possible, first discuss your concerns and expectations with your neighbors.
   
   
2. If an illegal activity is occurring, call the Columbia Police Dept. at 803-252-2911 in the city or the Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. at 803-576-3000 in the county. If it is an emergency, call 911.
   
   
3. If a code is being violated, report it to the City of Columbia Code Enforcement at 803-545-3430 and report county violations to the Richland County Ombudsman at 803-929-6000. The city and county require proper maintenance of all residential buildings. Enforcement includes, but is not limited to:
   • overgrown yards
   • abandoned vehicles
   • illegal dumping
   • roll carts
   • litter
   • structures in need of repair
4. Report the incident to the University of South Carolina by submitting an Incident Report. A University of South Carolina staff member will follow up with you about the incident within seven business days.
   
   

Need Student Volunteers for a Neighborhood Project? 

Consider partnering with the university's Leadership and Service Center to make it happen.

Contact their team at lsc@.sc.edu to discuss your idea and find the best avenue to help meet that need.

Service Site Requirements

• Service typically takes place on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Sites are expected to have enough work for two to three hours.
• Each group will have at least one student serving as a site leader, who serves as the main point of contact between the site and the student volunteers.
• In most cases, sites must provide the materials needed to accomplish the project.