Housing Resources
Equal Justice Works
Equal Justice Works is a non-profit organization that mobilizes law students, lawyers, and community organizers to combat housing instability and evictions, which disproportionately impact communities of color, women, and children in states including South Carolina. Through their Housing Justice Program, they offer two-year fellowships hosted by partner organizations, providing legal advice, full representation in eviction cases, community outreach, education and policy advocacy to address systemic barriers.
Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs)
CHDOs are private non-profit, community-based entities in South Carolina that develop affordable housing for low-income communities. Certified by SC Housing, they receive funding like HOME program set-asides to build or rehabilitate housing units, ensuring capacity and experience in serving local needs.
South Carolina Interagency Council on Homelessness
The South Carolina Interagency Council on Homelessness is a state-wide network of advocates, service providers, and funders dedicated to ending homelessness through collaboration and resource coordination. They offer data reports and policy recommendations, as well as connections to shelters, supportive services, and prevention programs for individuals and families experiencing housing instability.
Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC)
TAC is a national organization dedicated to addressing the shortage of affordable rental housing in the United States, which poses significant barriers to community integration for people with disabilities and extremely low-income individuals, many of whom have incomes at about 20% of the area median and face homelessness risks. TAC offers technical assistance to states and communities by developing policies and financing approaches to expand the supply of rental housing and permanent supportive housing; specific programs and initiatives include Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA), Integrated Housing Models, Rental Assistance and Planning, Developing, & Financing Affordable Supportive Housing. (No South Carolina-specific details mentioned).
South Carolina Legal Services Housing Law Center
The South Carolina Legal Services Housing Law Center is a resource hub from South Carolina Legal Services, a non-profit providing free civil legal aid to low-income residents. They offer guidance on eviction processes, landlord-tenant rights, repair disputes, and housing discrimination, including self-help tools, brochures and applications for legal representation.
Hearth & Ethos (Haven Home)
Hearth & Ethos, operating as Haven Home, is a modern non-profit organization in South Carolina partnering with Bear Impact Fund to promote housing equity. Their initiative involves acquiring and renovating homes, reducing costs through non-profit ownership, and reinvesting in families and communities; they offer social programming to support residents, impact initiatives for direct community aid, and investment opportunities for accredited investors to supply affordable housing.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) South Carolina
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) South Carolina office is a federal agency providing funding and resources for housing needs across the state, though not direct services. They offer programs for affordable housing (Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8, Subsidized Multifamily), homelessness prevention (via Continuum of Care/CoC networks and 2-1-1 hotline), homeownership (FHA loans, HUD homes), foreclosure avoidance, home repairs (referrals to SC Housing and USDA programs), discrimination reporting (Fair Housing Act complaints), rent relief/eviction resources, housing quality standards inspections, lead paint info, and disaster recovery, with referrals to local Public Housing Authorities, counsellors, and partners like SC Housing Search and USDA Rural Development.
South Carolina Community Loan Fund (SCCLF)
The South Carolina Community Loan Fund (SCCLF) is a mission-driven Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that has been operating for over 20 years to promote economic growth and development across South Carolina by providing access to capital for underserved communities. They focus on supporting affordable housing, small businesses, community facilities, and healthy food access through financing and resources aimed at low-income areas and women-led enterprises. They offer loans for small businesses and healthy food initiatives; entrepreneur development including one-on-one assistance and courses via the LEAP program; adaptable capital for workforce/affordable housing, community facilities, and nonprofits; and New Market Tax Credit allocations for community investments. A key initiative is the Housing Our Future Trust Fund, launched in partnership with Charleston County to support affordable housing efforts.
National Equity Atlas – Housing Precarity Tract Map Dashboard
This interactive dashboard maps housing precarity at the census tract level, including indicators such as rent burden, overcrowding, and housing instability. Users can examine neighborhood-level disparities by race/ethnicity and income, highlighting structural inequities in housing access. The tool supports local policy planning, community advocacy, and targeted interventions addressing nonmedical factors that impact health.
Center for Heirs’ Property
The Center for Heirs’ Property helps families protect land, preserve family legacy, and build generational wealth by addressing heirs’ property challenges. Its services include free and low-cost legal education and direct legal assistance to help families resolve title issues, reach family land agreements, probate estates, and prevent the loss of property rights. The organization also provides financial education, community outreach, wills clinics, heirs’ property seminars, land-use workshops, and sustainable forestry and land management support to help landowners increase the long-term value and productivity of their land. Rooted in and serving South Carolina, the Center also supports families in East Texas through an expanded initiative.