The Front Porch Newsletter - October / November 2025

October - November 2025

Save the Date(s): The South Carolina Affordable Housing Summit is BACK

SC Housing's 2026 South Carolina Affordable Housing Summit is set for April 15-16, bringing together leaders, innovators, and advocates from across the state to tackle the challenges and opportunities shaping South Carolina’s housing landscape.

The 2026 version of the summit will feature keynote speakers, exhibitors, awards, and pertinent breakout sessions.

The Summit will once again serve as the premier statewide gathering for sharing knowledge, celebrating progress, and building partnerships to expand affordable housing opportunities for all South Carolinians.

Registration and more information will follow.

Made It Home! Program’s five preliminary home builder participants for 130 affordable homes announced

SC Housing’s Made It Home! Program – a groundbreaking initiative designed to revitalize South Carolina’s workforce housing stock – has named five builders as its preliminary award recipients to launch the program and construct the first suite of 130 homes.

The preliminary award recipient home builders are:

• D.R. Horton – 40 homes
• Gainey Construction Co. – 15 homes
• Housing Development Corporation of Rock Hill – 15 homes
• McGuinn Homes – 45 homes
• Oak and Ave Property Group – 15 homes

Launched in August 2025, the first round of the Made It Home! Program will continue into the new year as these homes are built and sold across the state.

While site selections are still underway, builders are already exploring opportunities in several counties across the state, including Richland, Orangeburg, Dorchester, Florence, Darlington, Spartanburg, and Sumter.

With a geographic diversity that spans many regions of the state, the Made It Home! Program’s preliminary awards showcase both collaboration and creativity.

Several of the planned 130 homes will be located in high-cost-of-living areas, where municipal and county partners are helping reduce expenses by waiving certain new home construction fees and donating land.

Columbia and Greenville celebrate new affordable housing communities

Last month, two South Carolina communities celebrated major milestones in affordable housing development with ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Greenville and Columbia.

In Greenville, officials and community partners gathered for the grand opening of Gateway at the Green, a 72-unit apartment community offering quality, affordable homes for families and individuals earning less than 60 percent of the area median income. Located in the growing Upstate, the development provides residents with a vibrant, convenient place to call home.

Meanwhile, in the capital city, Midtown at BullStreet opened its doors in Columbia’s historic BullStreet District. Developed by Connelly Development, LLC of Lexington, S.C., the community includes 90 rental apartment homes and townhomes on two acres near Page Ellington Park, a 20-acre public green space. Residents will enjoy a host of amenities, including a community room, computer center, fitness facility, playground, and gazebo.

Located just one mile from the State House, the 181-acre BullStreet District continues to serve as a model for inclusive urban revitalization, one where affordable housing plays a key role in connecting residents to opportunity and community. 

Midtown at BullStreet

Gateway at the Green

Claude Spurlock honored by Mortgage Bankers Association of the Carolinas

Claude Spurlock, SC Housing's business development manager, was recently honored as the Mortgage Affiliate of the Year at the Mortgage Bankers Association of the Carolinas 69th annual convention.

The award - which we would argue is overdue - is one of the highest honors afforded in the mortgage industry, and illustrates Claude's knowledge, integrity and overall dedication to the mission of SC Housing. Congratulations, Claude!

SC Housing’s new initiative supports first-gen homebuyers

SC recently launched a new initiative aimed at helping first-generation homebuyers with down payment assistance and homeownership education.

The goal of the First-Generation Homebuyer Program, which launched Wednesday, Oct. 15, is to provide would-be homebuyers whose parents have not owned a home with the opportunity to build wealth and stability through homeownership, helping to break generational barriers.

The program will provide qualifying first-generation homebuyers with $10,000 in down payment assistance and an enhanced, lower, fixed-interest rate. This pairing provides first-generation homebuyers with the ability to not just build equity in the present, but build a future for themselves and their families.

Loan rates for the First-Generation Homebuyer Program will be announced when the program launches on Oct. 15. For more information, homebuyers should contact one of the participating SC Housing lenders found at https://schousing.sc.gov/homebuyers/find-lender.

Gardner retires from SC Housing Board of Commissioners

Charles E. Gardner of Greenville is retiring from the SC Housing Board of Commissioners in September after serving since 2012.

His final day as a part of the board of commissioners was Sept. 30.

Gardner announced his impending retirement at the Sept. 17 meeting of the SC Housing Board of Commissioners. Highlighting the importance of promoting safe, decent and affordable housing for the people of South Carolina, Gardner likened the mission of SC Housing to that of a ministry.

“This is truly a blessing to me to have been a part of this agency for the number of years that I have been,” Gardner said. “It’s a ministry.”

“We have to understand that not all ministries are from the pulpit. You can’t serve God by giving him a glass of water or fluffing his pillow. The only way you serve him is to serve his children, as he said, ‘what you do unto the least of these you do unto me.’”

Gardner has been a strong advocate for affordable housing throughout his career, often saying, “housing is more than bricks and mortar.”

Before retiring in 1999, Gardner was Community Services Director for the City of Greenville. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power School, he also attended Voorhees College and Greenville Technical College and is a licensed real estate agent.

Gardner has received numerous awards for his work in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and community development. He has served on many boards, including as president of the SC Affordable Housing Coalition.

“Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this organization,” Gardner concluded. “I’ll keep watching to see what (SC Housing) does.”

SC Housing extends its deepest gratitude to Commissioner Gardner for his service and steadfast dedication to the people of South Carolina.