Governor Henry McMaster, in partnership with the Office of U.S. Senator Tim Scott and the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), hosted an Opportunity Zones Summit in Columbia, S.C. on January 25, 2019. SC Housing Chairman Don Tomlin, Executive Director Bonita Shropshire, and NCSHA Executive Director Stockton Williams, joined other business and community leaders from around the state in discussions focused on possible investment opportunities for affordable housing in the designated communities.

The passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 established Opportunity Zones as a new investment in low income communities. The legislation is intended to give communities minimal regulatory constraints, maximum flexibility, and access to private capital to encourage development in low-income census tracts in need of economic recovery. The program creates federal tax incentives that allow unrealized capital gains to be reinvested into “Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOF)”.

South Carolina currently has 135 tracts in each of its 46 counties designated as opportunity zones. Interest in South Carolina’s Opportunity Zones went national on February 21 when Vice President Mike Pence joined Senator Tim Scott to tour and praise Opportunity Zones in the Columbia area.

SC Housing Cultivates Partnership Opportunities with Community Economic Development Champions

The South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) Invites SC Housing leadership team to Housing Roundtable Discussion

On February 6, 2019, SC Housing Executive Director, Bonita Shropshire, along with her executive leadership team, joined community economic development partners for a roundtable discussion about the state’s housing related needs. Ms. Shropshire shared her vision and leadership strategy for strengthening alliances and increasing engagement with community partners. The meeting included opportunities for housing partners to network on a one-to-one basis for a more in depth discussion of strategies, services, and resources available through the network of SCACED affiliated organizations.

According to Bernie Mazyck, SCACED President and CEO, his organization is interested in strengthening collaboration with SC Housing so that, “together, our two organizations can have an even greater impact on affordable housing in South Carolina.” Don Oglesby, SCACED Board Chair, affirmed the Board’s commitment to this goal.

SC Housing Joins Statewide Efforts to Assist Families Impacted by Hurricane Florence

South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) Partners with State Agencies in Damage Assessment

On September 14, 2018, Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina as a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 90 mph. As the storm moved slowly south into South Carolina, it changed into a tropical depression. The hurricane caused nine fatalities, including widespread damage to homes, the environment and infrastructure.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), along with a team of State agency partners, including SC Housing, formed an Advanced Evaluation Team (AET) to travel to affected areas for a boots-on-the-ground assessment of local community needs. The three key areas of focus were: The housing needs of residents; the impact on critical community infrastructure like bridges and roads; and the economic injury to small businesses, including local agriculture.

Local officials expressed concerns about the compounded effects of having multiple hurricanes to impact their communities over the last several years. They reported lingering housing needs and repair work related to previous severe weather events such as the hurricane induced severe flooding events in 2015 and 2016. Rural areas, such as the impacted communities in the Pee Dee region, were already challenged by a lack of affordable housing prior to the storm. Families with low income levels were among the most vulnerable groups because of their inability to afford repairs and their need to remain in the only affordable housing available to them within their community, regardless of its condition. The AET team’s housing recommendations address the need to increase housing opportunities for low to moderate income households.

Additionally, SC Housing convened an interagency Housing Solutions Task Force to support disaster recovery efforts as per the State’s emergency plan. The task force is a collaborative effort between Federal and state agencies, as well as volunteer organizations such as the Red Cross, United Way, etc.

Work will be ongoing to address housing objectives as South Carolina continues its recovery efforts. For more information, a list of disaster resources for impacted residents is available on the SC Housing website at https://www.schousing.com/Home/DisasterResources.

SC Housing Participates in Team South Carolina Relief Days

In the month of October, agency representatives traveled to areas of the state most impacted by Hurricane Florence as part of Governor Henry McMaster's Team South Carolina Days. Various state and federal agencies, as well as non-profit organizations, assembled at these events to provide residents and businesses with a one-stop opportunity to ask questions and gather resources on such subjects as insurance claims, healthcare services, emergency preparedness, rental and mortgage assistance, and FEMA financial assistance.

SC Housing Homebuyer Programs Now Offer Forgivable Down Payment Assistance

Changes Effective March 15

Changes to SC Housing's Homeownership program are now being implemented to make the program more attractive and supportive to potential homebuyers. Beginning March 15, SC Housing is pleased to offer all new Forgivable Down Payment Assistance (DPA) with a zero percent (0%) interest rate and no monthly payments. The DPA is a second lien with 10 or 20 year terms based on the borrower(s) total household income. For borrowers with incomes at or below 80% AMI (Area Median Income) the term is 10 years. For borrowers with incomes above 80% AMI, the term is 20 years. If the borrower(s) remain in the home for the full term, the lien is forgiven.

Development Division Update

Housing Tax Credit Workshop

The annual 2019 Housing Tax Credit Application workshop was held on Tuesday, January 22 from 8 a.m. - noon at Embassy Suites. Development staff provided technical assistance to LIHTC Developers on the 2019 application funding cycle. Approximately 80 developers and program stakeholders attended the workshop.

HOME and National Housing Trust Fund Public Hearings

The annual public hearing for the HOME and National Housing Trust Fund programs was held on January 24, 2019 at the SC Department of Commerce from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. The Development Program Manager discussed the plan to use these funds as part of the 2019 Small Rental Development Program (SRDP). The SRDP Draft Manual for the 2019 program was reviewed at the hearing, and Development staff accepted public comments on the draft document through February 5, 2019 5:00 p.m. (ET).

Housing Trust Fund held its first 2019 quarterly HTF Advisory Committee Meeting in the SC Housing Board Room on Tuesday, January 29 at 1:30 p.m.

CHDO Designation Training

As part of the HOME program federal requirements, a minimum of 15% of the agency's annual HOME allocation must be awarded to Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs). SC Housing must certify CHDOs annually; therefore, staff scheduled four (4) CHDO training sessions on December 11 and 13 to review CHDO requirements for those nonprofits interested in becoming certified. A CHDO is a nonprofit, community-based service organization that has staff with the capacity to develop affordable housing for the community it serves. The Development Division received 2019 CHDO Application for Designation submissions Monday, February 4 through Friday, February 8, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CHDO applicants will be notified of their designation status by Friday, March 29, 2019.

Meet SC Housing’s Faces of Home

Alexis Robinson

Sometimes a Google search can be life changing. So it was for Alexis Robinson, a teacher at A.C. Flora High, who was able to buy her first home thanks to Palmetto Heroes and down payment assistance. Alexis started her search with a simple search for “SC homeowner assistance.” One of the returns mentions “look into Palmetto Heroes.” Soon, with the help of Teri Smith at Ameris Bank (SC Housing’s 2018 Loan Officer of the Year), Alexis was out looking for her perfect home in a “semi-rural” area—something close to town but still quiet and private. She is now entering her sixth year teaching advanced math courses to 11^th and 12^th graders and is glad to have a place to relax at the end of the school day.

Palmetto Crossing Apartments Ribbon Cutting

SC Housing participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for Palmetto Crossing Apartments on December 19. Palmetto Crossing is a 48-unit Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) multi-family complex developed by Connelly Development. The complex includes two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments.

Warming Up for Winter

SC Housing exhibited at a community health event on November 14 sponsored by First Choice VIP Care Plus. In addition to gifts of winter coats and apparel, attendees also received information from participating agencies and organizations on a wide range of topics including health care, housing resources and energy conservation.

2019 Spring Home Show

SC Housing Marketing staff attended the Horry Georgetown Home Builders Association Spring Home Show 2019. The show was held on February 8 -10 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Each year more than 200 exhibitors, including SC Housing, showcase their products and services.

Connect with Us @@SCStateHousing

Are you interested in updates on our programs? Would you like to receive information on the latest breaking housing news and trends? Click the icons below to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and be sure to like our page!