Grand Strand homeowners trying to avoid losing their houses may be eligible for federal money and not realize it.
As of July 31, 172 Horry County families had received a total of $1,870,336 in assistance from the Hardest Hit Fund program, and only 27 families in Georgetown County had received a total of $319,048 from the program, according to the S.C. State Housing Finance and Development Authority.
A number of agencies around the state have been working to get the word out to struggling homeowners about the federal funds that have been going unused because of a lack of awareness that the help is available.
The S.C. Housing Authority is also doing joint mailings with the Department of Employment and Workforce to individuals who are now drawing unemployment benefits or have been within the last six months, said Clayton Ingram, spokesman for the Housing Authority.
The Hardest Hit Fund program was launched in 2010 by the Obama administration to help homeowners avoid foreclosure in the states hardest hit by the economic and housing market downturn.
South Carolina has received about $295 million from the program and began offering aid in January 2011.
Through June, the S.C. Housing Authority had used less than $30 million of that total on about 3,000 South Carolinians aiming to avoid losing their homes, The Post and Courier reported.
For more information on applying for Hardest Hit funds, go to www.schelp.com or call toll free 855-435-7472.
Affordable housing workshop to be held Wednesday in Pawleys Island
A free housing workshop will be held Wednesday in Pawleys Island.
The workshop will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation office, 8263 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island. It will offer information about affordable housing programs and services available to Georgetown County residents. It also will give information on lending programs and other services the Lowcountry Housing Trust offers to builders and developers of affordable housing.
There will be a discussion about down payment assistance programs, including those for first-time homebuyers, single parents and disabled people.
Attendees will also learn about programs that provide subsidies for accessibility, weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to existing owner-occupied homes.
Registration is required for the workshop. To register, please email debra@lowcountryhousingtrust.org or call 973-7285.
Contact JANELLE FROST at 443-2404.
