DISCOVER CHS HOUSING RESOURCES
All the latest on housing equity
THE LARGER ISSUE
Housing inequity is commonly discussed within the larger context of gentrification among scholars. There are numerous quality of life factors - health, education, community outcomes - that are worsened because of lack of affordable housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (p. 6) states:
Exclusionary Displacement: "As mentioned previously, displacement [occurs] when neighborhood choices become limited from the lack of affordable housing units, excluding them from the realm of possibilities for low-income families. Exclusionary displacement from the loss of affordable housing units occurs across the nation, even in non-gentrifying neighborhoods, due to the rental affordability crisis. HUD’s most recent worst-case housing needs assessment estimated that the number of renter households with worst-case needs—defined as renters with incomes less than 50 percent of the Area Median Income who do not receive government housing assistance and who pay more than one-half of their incomes for rent, live in severely inadequate conditions, or both— increased to 8.3 million in 2015, up from 7.7 million in 2013."
ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN CHARLESTON
In Charleston, housing access and affordability is an issue that challenges most locals. The peninsula has geographic limitations and height restrictions that limit housing development options. The population of the city is growing while the peninsula cannot. As a result of this, the cost of housing increases, which limits access to who is able to live downtown. Furthermore, gentrification is rampant in North Charleston and West Ashley. This issue is further complicated by students, faculty, and staff from The College of Charleston who need housing.
“Gentrification: a process of neighborhood change that includes economic change in a historically disinvested neighborhood —by means of real estate investment and new higher-income residents moving in – as well as demographic change – not only in terms of income level, but also in terms of changes in the education level or racial make-up of residents.” (The Urban Displacement Project).
In 2020, The College accepted a record 2,218 incoming first-year students, and this number is expected to once again increase next year. There are not enough dorms to house all of the CofC students, which puts added pressure on the housing system downtown (and elsewhere). There are no fixed housing prices on the peninsula, so as the need for housing increases, rent can increase without being regulated.
In the spring of 2022, The College announced that one of the largest dorms, McAlister, would be closed for renovations for the 2022-2023 school year. They are prioritizing on-campus housing for first-year students, which means that many students in their final years of school are being forced to look off-campus. The issue here is that housing on the peninsula is too expensive for many students, and living off the peninsula is not feasible for some because of transportation needs.
INTERSECTIONS OF THIS ISSUE
Charleston is rarely studied with the same level of urgency as cities facing a comparable housing crisis like Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Chicago, but the housing crisis in Charleston has implications for the displacement of both incoming student residents and long-term low-income residents. The CDC analyzes some consequences of gentrification and displacement:
The CDC outlines how "Displacement has many health implications that contribute to disparities among special populations, including the poor, women, children, the elderly, and members of racial/ethnic minority groups. Studies indicate that vulnerable populations typically have shorter life expectancy; higher cancer rates; more birth defects; greater infant mortality; and higher incidence of asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. In addition, increasing evidence shows that these populations have an unequal share of residential exposure to hazardous substances such as lead paint.
Other health effects include limited access to or availability of the following:
affordable healthy housing
healthy food choices
transportation choices
quality schools
bicycle and walking paths, exercise facilities, etc.
social networks"
WHAT MAKES THIS A CRISIS?
In the midst of this scramble for students, faculty, and staff to find affordable downtown housing, many leasing companies and landlords located on the peninsula have increased rent prices for everyone concurrently with the College's decision to only provide housing for first-year students.
On average, a monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment downtown is now $1,700 per person. Consequently, many college students and other Charleston civilians are being forced to leave the city or transfer out of the school because they cannot afford to stay (ABC15 News).
The Riley YOUth Count from 2019 estimates "125-175 youth who are living in places not fit for human habitation in Charleston County." 38% of these individuals have been experiencing housing insecurity for at least one year. The primary reason for this issue among the surveyed individuals is a lack of financial resources. The lack of a safe place to stay also affects individuals's health and their access to food.
While this information is disheartening, hope is not completely lost...
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of experiencing housing insecurity, there are organizations in the greater Charleston community that are dedicated to helping relieve some of that burden.
Below you can find a compiled list of local organizations that have been working to provide resources for equitable housing in Charleston...
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS & RESOURCES
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
The College of Charleston is working to combat housing inequality for students. If you or someone you know is a CofC student and at risk of facing houselessness, you might qualify for food and temporary housing.
We know that The College community is only a small party of our city at large, so what efforts are being made to support the locals of Charleston who are facing displacement or housing insecurity?
CHARLESTON AREA JUSTICE MINISTRY
"The Charleston Area Justice Ministry—CAJM—is a growing network of Faith Based Congregations who are culturally, economically, geographically and religiously diverse. We come together to make the Charleston area a more just place to live.
Member Congregations work together to empower marginalized people in our communities. We accomplish this by conducting research, education and then publicly addressing the root causes of, and solutions to, poverty and injustice in our communities. CAJM is unique in its approach in that it transforms the systems that cause suffering by holding local officials accountable for resolving these inequities and injustices."
THE RILEY CENTER CHARLESTON YOUTH COUNT
(Directly from the YOUth COUNT Summary)
There are an estimated 125-175 youth living in places not fit for human habitation in Charleston County.
Lack of financial resources is the key reason that these young people do not have stable places to stay.
38% of respondents have been experiencing continuous insecure housing for one year or longer.
ENOUGH PIE
Enough Pie is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that helps awaken and connect the stakeholders of the Upper Peninsula of Charleston to shape the development of our community using artistic collaborations, dynamic partnerships, creative placemaking, and civic engagement as tools.
"We believe that the process of using creativity as a form of community engagement to address broader challenges is as important as the final products and outcomes of Enough Pie’s efforts. Inclusivity is embedded in this process. As a network of residents, artists, and activists, we shine a creative light on this area and unite through creative acts to hold civic leaders and developers more accountable to equitable and just growth."
ONE80 PLACE
One80 Place, located downtown at 35 Walnut Street, helps Charleston residents facing resource insecurities and homelessness by providing temporary housing and re-housing support. This primarily community funded organization offers medical, legal, food rescue, and job training services to Charlestonians in need.
"In 1984, community leaders came together to start a shelter to help the growing number of people who were homeless. 38 years later, what started as a small effort to address an emergency need grew to be largest provider of homelessness services in Charleston. While we are bigger than we used to be, we are local, regional, and rooted in our belief that everyone deserves a home."
THE OPPORTUNITY ATLAS
We know that the issue of unequal access to housing does not exist in a vacuum of oppression. Consider the many imbalances of power that have led us to the housing crisis in which we find ourselves, and explore the many intersecting conditions that might add to one's housing insecurities using the Opportunity Atlas
"The Opportunity Atlas allows users to interactively explore data on children's outcomes into adulthood for every Census tract in the United States. This can inform local efforts to build equitable, prosperous, and healthier communities."
IN THE NEWS
Check out these articles about the Charleston housing crisis
Charleston needs thousands of affordable housing units in next decade to meet demand
Housing Stock: A Closer Look
https://www.charlestoncityplan.com/blog/cost-xcmew
The Climate Real Estate Bubble: Is the U.S. on the Verge of Another Financial Crisis?
https://time.com/5953380/climate-housing-crisis/
Evictions in South Carolina signal housing crisis for renters nationwide as homelessness looms
CofC students say they might transfer due to lack of affordable housing
Charleston takes new approach to housing crisis
https://charlestonbusiness.com/news/real-estate-residential/81253/
Charleston, SC Affordable Housing Development
https://govlab.hks.harvard.edu/charleston-sc-affordable-housing-development
Charleston’s housing crisis is on pace to mirror San Francisco’s. Shunning development could make it worse.