The past 10 days have seen an amazing amount of positive change on the affordable housing front in Greenville.
The biggest story, and one that the Greenville Housing Fund is actively involved in, is Greenville City Council’s decision to invest $2.5 million in affordable housing. From the article on WYFF by Journalist Taggart Houck “According to the resolution, the city will commit $2.5 million annually for affordable housing to the Greenville Housing Fund. The Fund will then use the $2.5 million commitment to leverage more than $33 million through a bond program.
Formed in 2018, the Greenville Housing Fund is tasked with managing affordable housing in the city and county.
‘So what we’re doing is accelerating the down payment, if you will, for affordable housing, instead of waiting 5 or 6 or 7 years,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White. “It’s going to mean at the end of the day that we have a city that’s more welcoming for everyone, that’s a place for everyone, but at the same time, recognize the market forces are always pushing against us, and we’re trying to push back the other way, and that’s what we’re going to do with these new resources.’
White said the commitment will not result in an increase in taxes.
The fund’s target household incomes are between 30 to 80% of the area’s median income. Part of the focus will be on single-family home ownership in existing neighborhoods. Bryan Brown, the president and CEO of the Greenville Housing Fund, said he commends Greenville for its commitment. He said right now, there are 336 units in the city of Greenville that need funding to be constructed.
‘We need to create housing opportunities — both rental and ownership — for teachers, firefighters, police, hospitality workers — the people that live and work in our community — and that’s what this is all about,’ said Brown.”
More coverage can be found in the Post & Courier and The Greenville Journal.
Then there is GOAL, an interfaith organization made up of over 20 congregations across Greenville County. According to the Greenville News, GOAL leaders asked for $10 million from the city and $10 million from the county, with one-third going to those who make 30 percent of the area median income or about $27,000 for a family of four, during a packed house meeting this week with 1,500 people attending.
