Charleston County allocates over $1 million for affordable housing

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — $1.6 million in federal funding was approved for affordable housing projects here in Charleston County. The funds will produce at least 66 affordable units for rent and homeownership.

Charleston County council approved $1.6 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds for the county’s Affordable Housing Land Acquisition Grant Program. This pilot program will secure land for affordable housing projects in partnership with the Charleston Redevelopment Corporation.

“It’s a very important issue we have to solve so folks can live work and play all in the same area, it’ll help reduce traffic it’ll benefit businesses by having a stronger workforce,” said Eric Davis, the director of Greenbelt Programs.

Four projects are part of this grant including the West Ashley Multifamily Workforce, North Charleston Townhomes, Moray Hill/Accabee Sacred Site Development and the East Cooper Tower Drive site. The county is opening the program up to a wide range of developers

“I think the innovative part of the program is that we are working with both non-profits and for-profit businesses. We are letting them develop those projects and then come to us to help make that happen,” said Davis.

The plan implements unique strategies working towards the ultimate goal of increasing affordable housing in the area.

“They have given us a few specific strategies in that plan they want us to work on because it’s a really big problem. There’s lots of strategies and solutions but the first couple are acquiring land for affordable housing and also to develop a housing fund which we’ve done with the South Carolina loan fund as well,” said Davis.

The county has a little less than a million dollars left they will allocate to housing projects in the next few months.