South Carolina Renters Can Get Help From The COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program

South Carolina renters who lost jobs and income because of the COVID-19 pandemic and got behind on rent could have some relief. The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) has launched the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program to provide rental payments for the affected tenants.

The COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program will provide up to $1,500 to renters affected by shutdowns, closures, layoffs, reduced work hours, or unpaid leave due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To qualify, renters must meet a number of requirements including:

• Applicants must be South Carolina residents.
• Applicants’ household income at the time of application must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the county in which they reside. Click here for Income eligibility by county.
• Applicants’ employment/income must have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning March 10, 2020, or later.
• Applicants must be past due a minimum of one month on rent.
• The rent assistance payment must bring the rental balance current.
• The applicant CANNOT currently receive any subsidized rental assistance.
• The applicant CANNOT be approved for or a recipient of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ($600 additional weekly benefit).

Those interested in learning more about or applying for rental assistance through the COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program can do so here: https://scthrive.org/covid-19-rental-assistance-program/.