Inspirational speaker Chris Singleton will share his message of hope and resilience at SC Housing’s upcoming 50^th anniversary celebration on December 2^nd. The virtual event is free to the public. “At a time when so many have experienced personal struggles and even the loss of loved ones due to the pandemic, we all need to be reminded that hope remains,” says Shropshire, executive director for SC Housing.

Singleton, a former baseball player for the Chicago Cubs organization, began encouraging audiences nationwide after the loss of his mother, Shardona Coleman-Singleton, in the 2015 Mother Emanuel Church Tragedy in Charleston, S.C. Singleton went on to publish a series of children’s books about acceptance of differences and “loving your neighbor.”

As SC Housing turns the page on a half-century of working with partners to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to South Carolinians, the agency is inviting the community at large to join them in commemorating 50 years of service. The event will also include touching stories from South Carolina residents whose lives have been impacted by SC Housing programs, a look back at the agency’s history through a discussion with Congressman Jim Clyburn, and SC Housing’s annual Achievement Awards.

Time is running out. Register now for this free event, that will take place on December 2 at 3 p.m. You can also find us on Eventbrite by searching for South Carolina Housing.

We look forward to you joining us for this milestone event for the agency!

L-R: The Ellington and Northside Station

Finding affordable housing in Spartanburg recently became easier, when two affordable developments officially opened with ribbon cuttings on the same day in October.

SC Housing Multi-Family Development Director Eric Alexander was on-site to speak at both events and applauded the collaboration and partnerships that made both developments possible.

The Ellington, an affordable senior development for residents 55 and older, opened at 560 Magnolia St. The complex includes 50 one- and two-bedroom units and serves residents who make between 50 and 60 percent of the area’s median income. Rents range from $606 to $874 for the units, with the rate determined by the renter’s income.

500 Northside Station, a mixed-income apartment complex, opened just around the corner at 500 Howard St. There are 90 units at the complex – with 54 one-bedroom, 27 two-bedroom and 9 three-bedroom units. The 81 affordable units in the complex serve residents earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income, and rents range from $524 to $1,500.

Both projects were supported by SC Housing’s multi-family division that uses federal and state tax credits, as well as tax-exempt bonds, to encourage private developers to construct new or renovated housing that’s affordable for low- and moderate-income families.

In an effort to ensure that every South Carolinian who needed access to emergency rental assistance had an opportunity to apply for help, SC Housing announced in October that the SC Stay Plus program had opened more than 30 in-person applicant support centers across the state.

These centers were opened in conjunction and partnership with the S.C. Association of Community Action Partnerships, the S.C. State Conference of the NAACP and several county library branches.

The in-person centers, when combined with ongoing outreach, media support and community events, helped thousands of residents find the SC Stay Plus program and request assistance. As of Nov. 5, the SC Stay Plus program had received more than 8,800 complete applications, approving nearly $40.7 million in assistance for more than 7,600 families.

More information about the SC Stay Plus program, and where you can find in-person support across the state, visit the SC Housing website.

Erica Mijon is proud to say that she was the first of her friends to become a homeowner.

Erica is originally from Florida but stayed in Columbia after graduating from the University of South Carolina and falling in love with the campus. Following her graduation in May 2020, she started to look around for housing options.

As a young professional working for an insurance company, Erica had to consider the likelihood of working from home. Homebuying was the best choice for her so that she could work from home and take care of her dogs, Harley and Bear.

The timing was perfect for Erica to buy a home – interest rates were low, she had a solid down payment saved up and the homebuying process was much more accessible than she realized. She got in touch with a real estate agent who referred her to Guild Mortgage lenders. At Guild, a lender recommended she apply for SC Housing’s first-time homebuyer program.

Erica qualified and the program helped cover her down payment, providing additional financial security for her future.

“Because SC Housing had the homeowner’s program, I kept my savings while covering my down payment. It worked out well for me,” Erica said.

The savings that Erica didn’t use on her down payment were used to furnish her home and purchase necessary appliances. Thanks to the program, she is thoroughly enjoying homeownership. She has her own space and doesn’t have to worry about noise from neighbors while working from home. She can take care of her dogs in her spacious backyard and doesn’t have to worry about them interrupting important meetings.

“I couldn’t speak more highly of owning a home right now,” Erica said. “I feel balanced and like I have a great foundation to start from. I don’t have to worry about the next couple years.”

SC Housing recently released its 2021 annual report, Turning Challenges into Opportunities: A Journey of Hope, that commemorates the agency’s 50th anniversary.

The full report can be found online, but here is a summary of how SC Housing worked toward its mission of safe, decent and affordable housing for all Palmetto State citizens in the past year:

Interested in a career in affordable housing?

Are you a hard-working and dedicated individual who would like to help
SC Housing accomplish its mission of ensuring all South Carolinians have access to safe, decent and affordable housing?

Learn more about available positions at SC Housing by visiting our job board to learn what opportunities may be right for you.

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