South Carolina is preparing to provide $ 25 million in COVID-19 housing assistance to residents who have delayed payment of their rent or mortgage.
The money is intended to help people who have suffered financially from the pandemic to catch up on their housing bills, up to $ 7,500. It will go directly to homeowners and mortgage lenders.
While the money is not yet available, now is the time for qualified people to sign up, so they can be notified in the coming weeks. So far, more than 3,000 residents have done so.
To qualify, candidates must show:
- They have an income equal to or less than 80% of the median of their municipality, depending on the size of the family. For example, a single person could not earn more than $ 29,350 in Abbeville County, but could earn $ 45,650 in Beaufort County. A family of four could earn $ 64,800 in Berkeley County, but $ 41,900 in Bamberg County.
- They are “unable to pay all or part of the rent or mortgage, or are late in their rent or mortgage, due to circumstances arising from the coronavirus”. This can include a layoff, reduced working hours or an inability to work due to a COVID-19 infection or quarantine.
- They have a landlord or creditor who will confirm your arrears and be willing to accept payment on your behalf.
The $ 25 million came from the federal government as part of the CARES Act last year. Frustrated, despite the urgent need, he is still addressing the people he must help, but that is about to change.
The SC State Housing Development and Financing Authority – short for SC Housing – is now responsible for the funds and is lining up local agencies to process requests for assistance.
The goal is to have the resources available by February 15.
Potential applicants can apply to be notified by email once funding is available. To do this, go to schousing.com/Home/SC-Stay and fill out a form with four questions.
Those who do not have an email can call 833-985-2929. However, SC Housing has not created a system to notify people who do not have email.
Chris Winston, a spokesman for SC Housing, said that about 100,000 to 150,000 South Carolina residents are late in renting or paying their mortgage.
“The goal is to arrest people, people facing evictions,” he said.
Now, $ 25 million may seem like a lot, but that’s just enough to provide $ 7,500 in assistance to 3,333 families. Not everyone will need maximum assistance, so the actual number of people who can get help is likely to be substantially greater.
An earlier $ 5 million program to help tenants, called SC Thrive, ended in October.
During the Great Recession, a much larger program, SC Help, helped prevent people from losing their homes after the housing loan crisis.
Reach David Slade at 843-937-5552. Follow him on Twitter @DSladeNews.