Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston had to organize a rapid response meeting to help 24 of her former workers wade through the unemployment process and hopefully land back on their feet.

With South Carolina's unemployment rate hovering above 12 percent, the situation wasn't exactly isolated. But what made the situation unusual was that the state unemployment experts who responded to the job cuts were assisting other state workers.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, an agency that handles consumer protection issues, complaints, and offers educational programs, was forced recently to cut 24 staff members. Combined with attrition, the consumer agency's head count is down roughly 50 percent since last October and now has only about 40 workers.

Among those job cuts were the agency's regional outreach coordinators, including one who was posted in Gaffney to serve consumers in the Upstate. A call to the telephone line for the Gaffney representative now comes with a message that the local Consumer Affairs line is no longer active.

Pinkston, the administrator of the state agency, said the decision to cut staff was difficult.

"Gaffney and Cherokee County, that was our flagship location and the citizens of Cherokee County have supported and embraced the department," she said.

In addition to handling consumer complaints, the local coordinator held monthly meetings at the Cherokee County Library to inform consumers about the latest scams making the rounds, or topics like identity theft and how to protect yourself.

Pinkston assured that the consumer agency will continue to make personal visits in counties and cities across the state with existing staff, but won't have employees permanently stationed here.

The cuts were necessary because of a large deficit in the DCA's budget that stemmed from the severe downturn in the housing market, Pinkston said. The agency typically gets thousands of dollars a year in operating revenue from licensing fees for mortgage brokers and loan originators — two professions that have been in decline along with housing market activity.

Pinkston said she hopes to restore the regional outreach positions when the budget situation improves.

The jobs were created from the beginning, she explained, out of a desire to move consumer services out of Columbia and into South Carolina's communities.

"It's been quite a wonderful program and the citizens have responded," she added.

She further lauded the outreach coordinator who serviced Cherokee County consumers, in addition to those in Spartanburg County and Union County. "She did an exemplary job and she is an exemplary staff person," Pinkston said.

As a result of the staff cuts, Pinkston organized a rapid response meeting that saw staff members from the state Employment Security Commission come in to help the impacted workers through the unemployment process.

Pinkston said her department will continue to assist consumers and offer educational programs, both in person, online and through conference calls. She added that the department's services staff, which handles consumer complaints, is still available to help resolve complaints.

The Department of Consumer Affairs can be reached by telephone at (803) 734-4200; or (800) 922-1594, or online at www.scconsumer.gov.