If you’re a resident of South Carolina and worried about making your next rent payment, you may be anxious about the future. That’s quite natural, and you’re not alone. Fortunately, there may be rental assistance programs available to you. To better understand, let’s explore some of the emergency rental assistance programs in South Carolina that may be available to you.

SC Emergency Rental Assistance Programs

In South Carolina, there are a number of assistance programs aimed at assisting those in need to ensure that they’ll be able to maintain housing. However, depending on where you live, options may vary.

United Way Association of South Carolina

The United Way is an international nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing assistance in the form of connecting those in need with local services. The United Way Association of South Carolina is an umbrella organization with many local United Way associations under it throughout South Carolina.

Their website is a rich source of information, with search functionality based on your location where you can find nearby assistance programs and other organizations. Among these, there are numerous local organizations across South Carolina counties, and to find out if there’s a dedicated emergency rental assistance program in South Carolina near you, you can enter your address into the search bar on this page.

South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing)

The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority has a number of programs designed to improve housing in the state, including development initiatives. Importantly, for several counties that don’t have corresponding independent housing authorities, SC Housing oversees housing choice vouchers.

If you’re searching for affordable housing, SC Housing offers a housing search tool that you can find here. If you’re interested in the Housing Choice Voucher Program and you live in a county that is overseen by SC Housing, you can find more information about the program here.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Rental Assistance

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides rental assistance federally, in the form of both Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly known as Section 8) and subsidized housing. They also offer public housing, which may be less applicable to those looking to remain where they are in the private market. To determine whether you’re eligible for subsidized rent, you can find a list of South Carolina public housing authorities here.

Housing Choice Vouchers

Housing Choice Vouchers offer a means to remain in private housing but with subsidized rent. Your Local public housing authority will be able to give you specifics regarding your eligibility, but generally speaking, your household income must be 50% of the median income or lower, and public housing authorities are required to distribute 75% of available vouchers to those below 30% of the median income for the area.

To determine your eligibility, you’ll need to find out what the median income is in your area, which can be provided by your local public housing authority.

Public Housing

Public housing is also offered by HUD, but is distinct mainly in that these are publicly owned properties, rather than subsidized private properties. In other words, rather than your landlord receiving a subsidy to lower your rent, you simply pay a reduced rate to the public housing authority.

The Salvation Army of Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee Counties, SC

If you’re seeking emergency rental assistance in Greenville SC, The Salvation Army may be worth reaching out to. The Salvation Army of Greenville, Pickens, and Oconee Counties offers emergency financial assistance to help out those in need, including with expenses such as rent.

In addition to emergency financial assistance for rent, they offer other services, so even if you find that you’re not eligible, they may be able to help in other ways. You can find out more by visiting their website here, where you’ll find an online application form for assistance.

Additional Considerations

Depending on where you’re located, there may be additional services available to you. You can check with The United Way’s online 2-1-1 service, where you can search for various resources and programs based on your location to get started. Additionally, consider calling or contacting your local municipality online to inquire.

Getting Help for Your Household

Worrying about housing can be incredibly stressful. It’s natural to feel worried about how you will pay upcoming bills — especially rent! But, remember, you’re not alone. Many individuals and families go through this challenge, and there are many programs that seek to offer assistance.

Depending on your specific circumstances and where you live, it may be a matter of reaching out and applying for assistance. If you’re looking for additional information or resources relevant to other states, be sure to check out our other informational resources online here.