Housing serves as the balance between infrastructure, education and economic development. Attainable housing can have a significant impact on economic development by attracting businesses and workers, stabilizing neighborhoods, reducing poverty, promoting social mobility and addressing income inequality. If attainable housing is not available, businesses may be less likely to invest in the area, which can lead to a stagnant economy. Conversely, when attainable housing is abundant, businesses are more likely to invest in the area and attract more workers, which can boost economic development.

Attainable housing can help to stabilize neighborhoods and prevent displacement. When residents are forced to move due to rising housing costs, it can lead to disinvestment in the community and a loss of social capital. Attainable housing can help to prevent this by providing stable housing for residents and ensuring that they can remain in the community. Organizations like Metanoia, Standard Communities and Community First Land Trust work to provide affordable housing options that seek to keep residents in the community.

While housing champions work to create supply to the housing stock needed, elected leaders must make it easier for developers to add to the need. Subsidies help make it possible for developers to create attainable housing. Federal and state funding for affordable housing programs have been decreasing over the years. Reductions in funding have led to less affordable housing availability, which can make it more difficult for low-income households to find housing that is affordable and attainable. There are efforts that local governments can put in place to help offset the cost of building attainable housing in our region.

Meet the Leaders of the Regional Housing Coalition

The Regional Housing Coalition held its Quarter 1 meeting on March 13. The Coalition has been working to identify volunteer leaders to guide the committees that will strategically begin working to educate, advocate and work with municipal leaders to suggest policies that will make it easier for attainable housing to be constructed. Below is an overview of the leaders who will be representing each of the subcommittees for the Regional Housing Coalition:

Funding

• Chair: Nikki Kuniej – Director of Digital Strategy, Charleston Radio Group 
• Vice Chair: Tommy Attridge – Senior Director, Standard Communities’

Technical

• Chair: Aaron Bowan – Lead Architect, Buckeye Community Hope Foundation’s Southeast Office 
• Vice Chair: Barry Whalen – President, HLA, Inc.  

Policy Development

• Chair: Michelle Brandt – Commissioner, Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission
• Vice Chair: Ike Boatwright – Director of Business Development and Construction services, HLA, Inc.

Public Relations 

• Chair: Abigail Darlington: Director, NP Strategy
• Vice Chair: Kravonda Forrest Simmons – Director of Inclusion, Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS®

Regional Planning Summit

Along with the Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® and the Urban Land Institute, we are excited to be hosting a Planning Summit on Wednesday, April 19. This 2.0 dialogue will support the efforts being made by the Regional Housing Coalition and our partners. If you are interested in learning more about the summit, please reply to this email.

Attainable Housing Week

April is National Fair Housing Month and the Regional Housing Coalition is hosting an Attainable Housing Week to bring awareness to the housing needs and solutions in the region. Mark your calendars for April 24 – 28 for Attainable Housing week! Be on the lookout for the week of events and to find out how your organization can be involved. For more information contact me at Clogan@charlestonchamber.org.