It's about as rare to hear a round of applause in a criminal courtroom as it is in church. But it was no ordinary day in court Thursday at One80 Place.

One80 Place celebrated the renovation of its Family Center on Friday, Feb 10.

A chill hung in the morning air at the CARTA Superstop where a woman sat quietly on a bench. Nearby, a large blanket and bags of belongings served as clues to her current living situation.

Three decades after the founders of One80 Place opened Charleston’s first true homeless shelter on Upper Meeting Street, the organization is planning to turn the now-vacant property into an affordable housing complex – a concept to serve the city's low-income population and maybe even begin eliminating the problem of homelessness.

Cuthbert Hurtault moves with precision as he swiftly slices an avocado, wielding a long knife to remove the pit before tossing each half into a big bowl.