MAY/JUNE 2016

$10 Million Available for 2016 Palmetto

Heroes Program

The

HOMEPAGE

2016 Palmetto Affordable Housing

Forum Highlights
The National Housing Trust Fund Provides
Federal Funding for Housing Initiatives
June is National Homeownership Month
Application Period for the
SC Housing Trust Fund Begins in May
Calendar of Events

A NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

$10 Million Available for 2016

Palmetto Heroes Program
New for 2016: Up to $10,000 in down
payment assistance (DPA)*

The South Carolina State Housing Finance and

Development Authoritys (SC Housing) Executive
Director, Valarie M. Williams, announced the 2016
Palmetto Heroes Program at this years Palmetto
Affordable Housing Forum. Eligible participants
for the 2016 initiative are:

Law Enforcement Officers

Correctional Officers
Teachers
Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants
Firefighters
Veterans
Emergency Medical Services Personnel
SC National Guard (Active members; Army or Air
and SC State Guard
The program features a reduced mortgage interest rate of 3% and
up to $10,000 in down payment assistance. Funding will be limited
to $10 million. Loans are available on a first-come, first-served
basis, and borrowers must have an accepted sales contract on a
home prior to reserving funds. All SC Housing loan policies and
procedures will be in effect for this program.
Those who do not qualify for the Palmetto Heroes program
may still qualify for one of the other lending programs offered by SC Housing. If you are a first-time homebuyer and
interested in learning more about SC Housings other lending programs, please visit SCHousing.com or contact a real estate
professional or participating lending partners.
*Qualifying borrowers with household income above 80% of area median income (AMI) can receive $7,000 on a newly
constructed home; $5,000 DPA on an existing home. Borrowers with household income below 80% AMI can get up to
$10,000 on any home purchase. See our website or contact a participating lending partner for details.
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2016 Palmetto Affordable Housing

Forum Highlights
This years theme focused on the concept of home and
how it impacts our lives, our communities and our state.

April 20th marked the end of another successful and informative

Palmetto Affordable Housing Forum. Approximately 500 partners,
sponsors, exhibitors and industry professionals attended the two day
conference at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Session
topics covered trending housing issues and challenges for SC workforce
housing development such as Housing Recovery After a Disaster, The
S.C. Economic Outlook for Housing in 2016 and Managing Student
Debt in Preparation for Homeownership. Speakers included many local
dignitaries and housing experts such as Columbia
Mayor Steve Benjamin, Dr. Joseph Von Nessen of
the Darla Moore School of Business and motivational
speaker, Coach Mike Ayers of Wofford College.
At the awards banquet on Wednesday, SC Housing
recognized this years winners of the Housing
Achievement Awards. SC Housing Executive Director,
Valarie M. Williams, announced that the Elected
Official Award would henceforth be named the
Senator Clementa C. Pinckney Elected Official Award
in honor of the late Senator Pinckney who was the
2012 Elected Official Award recipient.
Also returning this year was the popular childrens
What My Home Means to Me coloring and essay
contest with WIS anchor, Judi Gatson. The contest is
open to any children who live in properties receiving
funding from SC Housing programs.
If you were unable to attend the 2016 Palmetto
Affordable Housing Forum, mark your calendar for
next years event. The Forum is the largest and most
comprehensive venue for workforce housing issues in
South Carolina.
Pictured from top: SC Housing Speed Partnering
session; Executive Director, Valarie Williams, and
two time Essay Contest winner, Tayviona Jamison;
opening plenary speaker, Bonnie Lester; Senator
Clementa C. Pinckney Elected Official Award winner,
Representative Garry Smith; and Columbia Mayor
Steve Benjamin.

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The National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF)

Provides Federal Funding for Housing
Initiatives
SC Housing is selected as the designated state grantee for
adminstration of the NHTF program

The National Housing Trust Fund is a new affordable housing production program
that will complement existing Federal, state and local efforts to increase and
preserve the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary housing for extremely low- and
very low-income households. It is a formula-based grant program funded through
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered
by the States. South Carolina has designated SC Housing as the grantee to
administer the program on its behalf.
According to program procedures and requirements, each grantee must use at
least 80 percent of NHTF funding for rental housing; no more than 10 percent for
homeownership; and up to 10 percent for the grantees reasonable administrative
and planning costs.

June is National
Homeownership
Month
The SC Housing Board of
Commissioners endorsed a
proclamation observing June as
Homeownership Month.
Each year, SC Housing, the
National Association of Home
Builders, lenders, community
outreach groups, religious
affiliates as well as state and
federal government officials
join forces in June with the goal
of increasing and preserving
housing opportunities
throughout the state.

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NHTF funds may be used for the production or preservation of affordable housing
through the acquisition, new construction, reconstruction, and/or rehabilitation
of non-luxury housing with suitable amenities. All NHTF-assisted units will be
required to have a minimum affordability period of 30 years. According to an
official release on HUDs web exchange, eligible activities and expenses will
include:
Real property acquisition
Site improvements and development hard costs
Related soft costs
Demolition
Financing costs
Relocation assistance
Operating cost assistance for rental housing
Reasonable administrative and planning costs
HUD anticipates that grantees will receive their NHTF allocations by summer
2016.
HUD is currently developing guidance and training to assist grantees and program
partners in designing and implementing their programs. For more information on
the HTF, visit HudExchange.info/htf.

Application Period for the

SC Housing Trust Fund (SC HTF)*
Begins in May
Approvals are in effect for two years

SC Housing Trust Fund Nonprofit Designation applications

will be accepted May 16 20, 2016. In order to apply for
funding through the SC HTF, organizations must first be
approved by SC Housing. Once a nonprofit is successfully
designated, the approval period lasts for two program
years. Approved nonprofits may submit applications for
Emergency Repairs, Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Block
Grants, Group Homes or Supportive Housing depending on
previous affordable housing experience and performance.
The Nonprofit Designation Manual and Application is on the
agency webpage at: SCHousing.com/Housing_Trust Fund/
Non-Profit_Participation.
*Nonprofit Designation

Are you keeping up with

us on social media?
Find us on Facebook:
/SCStateHousing
and LIKE our page!
Follow us on Twitter:
@SCStateHousing
Go to SC State Housings
channel on YouTube

Upcoming Calendar of Events

Reaching Our Communities Through Training and Events

Employee Appreciation Luncheon
May 3

Lending Partner and Real Estate Professional Training

May 3
Charleston County Council Chambers - (2nd Floor)
4045 Bridge View Dr. (off Leeds Avenue), North Charleston, SC 29405
Lending Partner and Real Estate Professional Training
May 4
Coastal Carolinas Association of Realtors Training Room
951 Shine Avenue, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Confederate Memorial Day (Office Closed)
May 10
Lending Partner and Real Estate Professional Training
May 12
Piedmont Regional Association of Realtors
146 E. White Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Board Meeting
May 18 - 10:00 AM
SCHELP New Processors Training
May 19
National Memorial Day (Office Closed)
May 30

HOMEPAGE is published

bimonthly by SC Housing
Procurement and Marketing
300-C Outlet Pointe Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29210
803.896.9001

SCHousing.com
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Employee Picnic
June 10
SCHELP New Processors Training
June 16
Board Meeting
June 22 - 10:00 AM