Staff reports | The federal government sent South Carolina $272 million to help with rental assistance in the state, but so far less than 20 percent has been spent helping people behind on their rent, according to a report by WBTW.
Since May 2021, the SC Stay program has received more than 30,000 applications and has approved about $34 million in assistance.
“There’s another $32 million in applications we have completed but after our review we have realized they haven’t provided the documents needed in order to make a determination on that application,” Vinod Ramachandran with Guidehouse told state Public Service Commission officials.
Officials added part of the challenge of distributing the funding is because most applicants were missing proper documentation and some landlords not wanting to participate in the program.
In other recent news:
State’s future gravitates toward bigger cities, study finds. While the Palmetto State may sometimes seem quaint in the eyes of the nation, South Carolina ranks among the fastest-growing states in the union, increasingly gravitating toward urban centers. In an interesting series offered today, The State newspaper looks at issues facing big cities across the state — from Charleston, Columbia and Lexington to Greenville, Rock Hill and Myrtle Beach. More: The State
S.C. increasing payments to child care providers. South Carolina’s social services agency says it is now paying more money to providers in the program that subsidizes child care for low-income families. More: AP News.
Virus positivity rate below 5 percent. South Carolina health officials reported 729 total cases of COVID-19 Oct. 28, with 433 confirmed. A total of 66 new deaths, 50 confirmed, were also reported Thursday. With 15,067 tests reported, 4.5 percent were confirmed positive. Officials said COVID-19 vaccine booster shots also were widely available across the state.
Two of S.C.’s U.S. House districts could change significantly due to population changes. South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District “reaches fingers into Charleston and Columbia,” one senator said, adding that the two big cities need to have their own unique representation. If the district changes, it also likely would change the first district, which stretches from Charleston to Beaufort. More: The State.
S.C. GOP hosts ‘First in the South’ conference. The South Carolina Republican Party today will start a three-day event at the Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort and Spa at Grand Dunes titled “First in the South Republican Action Conference.” More: The Post and Courier. GOP Rep. Tom Rice, whose district will host the conference, was not invited to the meeting, according to reports.
DJJ acting director talks staffing shortage. Eden Hendrick, who took the reins of the Department of Juvenile Justice in September, described the staffing situation at the DJJ to state lawmakers Wednesday during a meeting of the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Subcommittee in Columbia. More: WISTV.
McMaster suggests $500M in virus money for water, sewer work. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster wants to put $500 million of federal COVID-19 relief money toward fixing and improving water systems across the state, with priority given to rural and smaller systems. More: AP News.
Wilson joins suit to stop federal funding of abortions. S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson will join with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and 10 other states to sue the Biden administration to stop federal funding of abortions. More: WCSC TV
Millions of acres of Southern marshes threatened. Salt marshes, which cover 1 million acres from the Outer Banks to north Florida, face danger from changing climate and rising seas, according to a special report. More. The State. Also learn how the coastal development boom endangers salt marshes.
First Lady visits Charleston hospital, base. In the closing days of breast cancer awareness month, First Lady Jill Biden toured the Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston on Monday. Later, she stopped at Joint Base Charleston to congratulate crews there for executing one of the largest humanitarian airlifts in history at the end of the Afghanistan war. More: AP News. Biden also said “South Carolina has a piece of my heart” in her Charleston visit.
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