Affordable Housing Programs for Renter's & Home Buyer's Finding adequate and affordable housing is a continuing challenge for many of South Carolina’s households. There is little evidence that the current steep declines in the sales prices of housing are relieving the pressure on the lowest income renters. If anything, the downturn in the housing market may be increasing the pressure on rental property prices, as the resulting recession and uncertainty around homeownership spreads. In South Carolina, and nationwide, it seems that despite the turmoil in housing markets and continuing declines in incomes, rents have continued modest growth and vacancy rates have declined. Communities where homeownership demand has all but dried up in the wake of falling prices and a faltering economy, expanding rental housing options is a necessary approach to maintaining occupancy and community stability. Indeed, in most South Carolina communities that fought to keep rentals out, a rental market of what were formally owner-occupied homes is growing quickly. Despite the strong evidence of both the need and the advantages of addressing the rental market in the current foreclosure crisis, as communities and the federal government have pursued assistance and regulatory reform, renters have taken a backseat to financial institutions and homeowners. It is time to address affordable housing problems both to mitigate the suffering of these families and to stabilize South Carolina’s housing markets for the long term. It is time for a balanced housing policy that is not motivated by an ideology that seeks to provide all Americans with a wide range of affordable, decent, housing options fitting their families’ needs.

South Carolina Finance & Development Authority
The mission of the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority is to create quality affordable housing opportunities for the citizens of South Carolina. A positive work culture reinforces the mission, encourages innovation, and is based on a spirit of cooperation and teamwork.

South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority uses technology, supportive relationships and innovative ideas to improve affordable housing opportunities throughout the State. Housing programs and financial incentives created through the Authority help thousands of low-income individuals and families. The Authority provides affordable housing while enhancing the value of investments.

MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. Through the support it provides, the Foundation fosters the development of knowledge, nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public interest media.

The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. The Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society.

South Carolina Federal Stimulus Tracking
In February of 2009, President Obama and the U.S. Congress signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to jumpstart the economy, save and create jobs, provide a helping hand to people affected by the recession, stabilize state and local budgets, and make investments that will provide long-term economic benefits.

While the funds won't solve all of the challenges facing South Carolina and the nation, they are critical to getting South Carolina back on track. The funds will help rebuild our infrastructure, grow the economy, stabilize the budget and get South Carolinians back to work. The Recovery Act is designed to stimulate the economy through measures that, among other things, create jobs, preserve and improve access to affordable health care, and protect those in greatest need.

Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina
The Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina (MHISC) provides industry information, representation and education. Founded in 1967, MHISC is the official voice of the industry in South Carolina. The association is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a business climate which maximizes the ability of South Carolina citizens to enjoy the quality and value of modern-day manufactured and modular homes.

MHISC was founded to promote the ownership of manufactured homes and to develop high professional standards for those involved in the industry. The Institute's public, government and consumer relations programs are directed toward these goals. In essence, the MHISC serves as a source of information for members, government and consumers.

South Carolina Homeownership and Employment Lending Program
The South Carolina Homeownership and Employment Lending Program (SC HELP) was designed based on the experience that every homeowner’s situation is unique and that homeowners have complex needs. Five program options to help eligible homeowners who are at risk of mortgage loan default or foreclosure.

Supportive relationships to develop a comprehensive, statewide strategy whose purpose is to help families stay in their homes or otherwise avoid mortgage loan default or preventable foreclosure. This website is the fastest way for families to submit an application for assistance.

South Carolina USDA Rural Development
The USDA Rural Development mission goal is to provide or partner with others in providing the financial and technical resources to assist South Carolina private citizens, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, communities, cities and counties in assuring that each rural community has what it takes to improve the quality of life and be successful.

The overall mission of USDA Rural Development is to improve the quality of life for rural Americans. Working closely with profit and non-profit sectors, along with state, tribal, and local governments, USDA Rural Development changes the way in which the Federal government does business. Ensuring rural citizens can participate fully in the global economy and by providing programs to rural Americans for a stronger economy to be built and improving the quality of life for all.

SHARE Community Action Partnership
SHARE a non-profit Community Action Agency that provides a wide range of services to low and moderate-income residents in upstate South Carolina. Chartered as an educational charitable organization in 1966 under the name of Greenville County Council for Community Actions, Inc. and is designated as a 501c(3) nonprofit organization. Renamed SHARE in 1979 and has helped thousand of families in its primary service areas of Greenville, Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.

SHARE approaches goals by providing a variety of programs that serve low-income children, families and individuals with the common goal of enabling them to eventually become independent of any public or charitable assistance. In other words - to become self-sufficient.

The Duke Endowment
In the Carolina's, thousands of households do not have and cannot afford a safe, stable home. To support communities and United Methodist churches in rural South and North Carolina, The Duke Endowment since 1999 has funded housing projects that help people buy and own energy-efficient affordable homes.

Financial education and counseling for homeowners is crucial. Potential homeowners must be given the chance to establish budgets and enter financial management and home maintenance programs. A case-management approach helps clients address both housing and non-housing needs. In the programs supported by The Duke Endowment, not one homeowner has lost his or her home to foreclosure. No one has defaulted on a loan.

South Carolina Homeless Coalition
The role of the South Carolina Homeless Coalition is to provide advocacy for homeless persons and affordable housing issues. The Coalition's leadership was instrumental in creating the South Carolina Blueprint to End Homelessness and other local plans designed to stop homelessness.

The South Carolina Council on Homelessness is comprised of key leadership agencies that provide services and funds to homeless individuals, programs or organizations. The purpose of the council is to provide the leadership and cooperation necessary for an integrated approach to addressing the comprehensive needs of homeless individuals and families.

The Affordable Housing Group of South Carolina
The Affordable Housing Group (TAHG) is a non-profit organization established in 1966 to develop affordable housing and provide technical assistance to community-based and faith-based organizations in North and South Carolina. Initially funded through the Ford Foundation and the North Carolina Fund for helping small towns and rural communities.

For over 40 years, TAHG has provided an array of services to build the capacity of local groups, and thus expand the number of organizations capable of serving the housing needs of their communities. The result has been the development of thousands of affordable homes and a growing number of local organizations with the motivation, knowledge and skills to address the affordable housing needs of their citizens.