The Front Porch Newsletter - October / November 2023

October - November 2023

A season to be thankful, a chance to serve

As we gather to celebrate the Thanksgiving season with friends and loved ones — to express our gratitude to and for each other — we also pause to remember those in our community who are without food and shelter, or a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home. We see glimpses of needs all around us and opportunities to serve. However, it is at this time that our gratitude for the things we take for granted — like having a place to call home— calls us to a higher level of service and our humanity drives us to action! 

You see, housing is more than just shelter; it builds hope and creates a pathway where families can improve their quality of life. It is the cornerstone of a stable, healthy, and prosperous life, and the building block for thriving communities. Housing is also about access to opportunities that play a pivotal role in reducing inequalities and enhancing social mobility. When housing is affordable, individuals and families have available resources for other essential needs like education, healthcare, and savings for the future.

By promoting affordable housing, we are supporting the dreams and aspirations of countless people in our state—from those who are purchasing their first home to those who have finally secured stable housing and can share a meal around their own table. 

Having decent housing benefits everyone! It creates a sense of belonging and contributes to stronger, more vibrant neighborhoods. It also improves the overall wellbeing of families, and helps the most vulnerable among us, such as the 12,000 school-aged children in our state who move from house to house or are living in hotels, motels, cars and other temporary locations while trying to attend school and learn (2022 SCICH State of Homelessness Report ).

As we reflect on the spirit of the season, may each of us commit to do our part to make a positive impact on housing needs in our community so that all South Carolinians can enjoy the benefits of coming to that place they can truly call “home,” not just for a season, but each and every day!

SC Housing offers a number of programs and services. You can learn more about how we are helping families in the state by visiting our website at SC Housing. You can also download a copy of our agency brochure to share with others in your community.

SC Housing celebrates upstate ribbon cutting and groundbreaking

The early fall was a busy time for SC Housing in the upstate of South Carolina, as the agency took part in both a new facility ribbon cutting and a project groundbreaking.

On Oct. 25, SC Housing Board of Commissioners Chairman Todd Latiff wielded the giant scissors and cut the ceremonial ribbon at Gentry Place Apartments, a sixty-unit complex in Pickens.

On Nov. 1, SC Housing Commissioner Charles E. Gardner took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for the soon-to-come Riley at Overbrook in Greenville.

Both projects were made possible by use of South Carolina's Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, led by the SC Housing development team.

Buying at home? Looking? View SC Housing's mortgage options

SC Housing introduces new lower-interest rate mortgage option

Homeownership is one of the cornerstones of the American dream and SC Housing is doing its part to make that dream a reality for South Carolinians with a new Reduced Interest Rate Homebuyer Program.

Participants that take advantage of the lower-interest rate mortgage option – limited to FHA/VA and USDA/RHS first mortgage loans – will be able to obtain a special reduced fixed-rate mortgage when buying their first home – this option does not include down payment assistance (DPA).

The program offers first-time homebuyers a fixed-rate mortgage that was quoted for the first time on Monday, Nov. 20, when the program became available. The current rate is 6.25 percent with zero discount points (lenders may charge up to a one-point origination fee).

Click here to view SC Housing's homeownership programs.

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Columbia VA Health Care, SC Housing team up to tackle veteran homelessness

SC Housing and the Columbia Veterans’ Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS) have joined forces to make 50 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) vouchers available to homeless veterans in Lexington County. 

The program will go into effect Dec. 1, 2023, for the fiscal year 2024.These vouchers are a part of a joint effort to combat the surge in homelessness among veterans in Lexington County.

Richard Hutto, SC Housing’s executive director, highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between SC Housing and the Columbia Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

“Uniting to provide veterans with the keys to their new homes symbolizes our unwavering commitment to a brighter future for those who have served our nation,” Hutto said. “Together, with the Columbia VA Health Care System, we’re not just providing housing, but hope.”