There are many programs to provide housing support to low-income families, the disabled, seniors, and homeless individuals. The programs are run both at the state and local level and some of them provide financial support to the families in need of additional resources.
Origin South Carolina – Homeless Prevention
The Origin SC is committed to eliminating homelessness among families in South Carolina. The organization has supported many families in achieving stability and self-sufficiency through services such as subsidies, rental assistance, and referrals to other housing resources in the community. Rental and utility assistance depends upon the availability of program funds and the eligibility guidelines. The organization is run the Lease on Life program, which is designed to help chronically homeless families obtain permanent housing. The program is specifically for people with disabilities who have been homeless for the past year. To identify individuals eligible for the Lease on Life program, Origin South Carolina works with local community agencies. Note that the program is offered by referrals only. That means you will have to reach out to the Lowcountry Homeless Coalition if you need help. Visit https://lowcountrycoc.org/. The organization also provides permanent housing support through the Shelter Plus Care Program. You must be referred by the Lowcountry Homeless Coalition to access the program support. For more details, please visit https://originsc.org/homeless-prevention/.
Origin South Carolina – Assistance to Homebuyers
Want to achieve the American dream of homeownership? The Origin SC has housing advisors to help you get there. There are homebuyer education sessions and workshops to help sharpen your knowledge about homeownership. Through these services, you can always know your rights and responsibilities awaiting you as the future homeowner. The organization is comprised of staff members concerned with your housing needs. They will walk you through the process and identify possible challenges and come up with ways of overcoming them. They will also help you develop appropriate strategies that help you buy a home you can afford. Start your journey by talking to a coach. Will you pay anything to access counseling and education? Well, introduction to homeownership is offered for free. However, individual coaching and online homebuyer course may cost hundreds of dollars to complete. The organization runs the Down Payment and Closing Cost Assistance Program, which provides financial assistance to low-income families through loans to enable them to become homeowners. The program is only available to first-time homebuyers who must meet the income eligibility requirements to qualify for financial support. Find out more at https://originsc.org/homebuyers/.
Foreclosure Prevention Assistance
Are you at risk of facing foreclosure? If you are already behind your mortgage payment, don’t be afraid. You are not alone. The Origin SC has licensed housing advocates to help you through foreclosure or prevent you from facing the situation. The organization can take you through mortgage counseling and foreclosure prevention services to get you out of the troubling situation. How can the advocates help? Usually, the advocates may postpone the property selling date to help you avoid experiencing foreclosure. The service is provided to qualified homeowners free of charge. The organization also runs the Reverse Mortgage Counseling Program that is designed to help senior homeowners avoid selling or changing the ownership of their property once they fall behind their mortgage payments. How does this work? Through this program, older homeowners can convert their home equity into tax-free income without having to resell or change the property ownership. To qualify for a reverse mortgage loan, you have to undergo complete reverse mortgage counseling. For more information about foreclosure prevention assistance, please visit https://originsc.org/homeowners/.
SC Housing Homebuyer Program
The program is administered by the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to low-income families through loans to cover their mortgage costs. Also, the program provides down payment support to the participants based on funds availability. The program provides up to $6,000 down payment assistance, which can be used for the down payment and closing costs. Support with down payment and closing cost comes in form of a second mortgage loan, which is payable over 10 or 20 years, depending on the family income. the loans are provided at no interest and you don’t have to make monthly payments. For your home to be forgivable, you must occupy the property for at least 10 years and the utmost 20 years. Who qualifies for the program assistance? You must be a first-time homebuyer and have a credit score of 640. You must be a resident of South Carolina and use the property as your primary residence. Find out more at https://www.fha.com/first-time-home-buyers-program/sc-housing-homebuyer-program.
Homebuyer Assistance Program
The Homebuyer Assistance Program support first-time homebuyers in the State of South Carolina. The eligible low-income families will receive financial support of up to $5,000 down payment assistance, which also covers closing costs. Please note that the program assistance is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. The assistance is provided in form of deferred or forgivable loans which are repaid only when the applicant resells or transfer ownership of the property. That means these loans are only forgivable if you maintain ownership and occupation of the property for at least five years. Who qualifies for the program assistance? Applicants must be employed and provide documentation for their monthly income and must undergo homebuyer counseling and education to qualify for the program assistance. You must also be a first-time homebuyer and willing to use the property as your primary residence. Please visit https://www.fha.com/first-time-home-buyers-program/sc-homebuyer-assistance-program for more details about the program.
South Carolina Section 8 Housing Assistance Program
The Section 8 Housing program provides rental assistance to low-income families to enable them to have access to quality housing they can afford. How does this work? The program subsidizes a portion of the rent paid by qualified low-income families. The program is run at the local level by the Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), who process the application and determine who qualifies for the program support. The PHAs conduct a criminal background check on the applicants. If you have been convicted as a result of drug abuse or sexual offense, you may not qualify for the program support. The PHAs maintain a waiting list where qualified applicants are placed once they qualify for rental assistance. However, you should note that you can stay on the waiting list for as long as 9 years and the program assistance depend upon the availability of funds. The program participants can contribute 30% of 40% of their income towards monthly rent. The program pays for the rest through housing vouchers, which are handed over to the landlords on behalf of the renters. Visit https://www.hud.gov/states/south_carolina/renting.
USDA’s Single-Family Housing Direct Home Loans in South Carolina
The purpose of the program is to help low-income families obtain quality housing in the USDA-eligible rural area. The program offers financial support to qualified applicants through direct loans. The program funds can be used to make repairs and renovation of homes and to upgrade old systems. To qualify for the program assistance, you must be willing to retain the ownership of the property and use it as your primary residence and demonstrate the need for financial assistance. You must also meet the income and citizenship eligibility requirements. The program loans are provided at a fixed interest rate of 1% and are repayable over 33 years. For extremely low-income families, they can make repayments after 38 years. For more details, please visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-direct-home-loans/sc.
South Carolina Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The South Carolina LIHEAP is designed to help families earning income below the federal poverty line to pay their home energy bills. The program aims to keep all families away from the harsh weather and ensure improved energy efficiency at homes. The program also provides weatherization assistance to families to help them reduce energy costs and make necessary improvements. The program also helps families in times of crisis. In other words, families facing heating or cooling emergencies, including threats of disconnections can receive additional funds. To qualify for the program assistance, you have to meet the income and citizenship eligibility requirements. Visit http://energy.sc.gov/residential/ebills.