Residents in Clarendon County and surrounding areas facing financial hardship may soon have an opportunity to receive help with rent payments through a regional housing assistance program.
The Santee-Lynches Council of Governments (SLCOG), through the Sumter County HOME Consortium, will begin accepting applications for its Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program March 16–31. The initiative is designed to help low-to-moderate income households experiencing a financial crisis that threatens their housing stability.
According to program information, the assistance is intended to provide short-term relief for rent payments, helping families remain in their homes and avoid homelessness during difficult financial periods.
Qualified applicants may receive up to $500 in rental assistance per month for as long as 12 months. Program officials note that applications will be processed in the order they are received, and the review process can take between 30 and 90 days.
To qualify, applicants must live in one of four counties served by the consortium: Clarendon, Lee, Kershaw or Sumter. In addition, applicants must meet household income requirements established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Applicants must also meet at least one of the following criteria: be 18 years of age or older, married, a military veteran, or have at least one dependent.
Several additional requirements apply. Tenants must currently hold a one-year lease agreement, as month-to-month leases are not accepted. Housing units will also be subject to required inspections. Applicants must submit all required documentation along with the TBRA agreement when applying.
Applications will open March 16 and close March 31. Officials said the deadline for submitting completed applications is April 15, and no exceptions will be made.
Online applications are the only method of submission and can be found at www.santeelynchescog.org/TBRA.
For more information, residents may contact Melodie Sigler at 803-774-1979 or Shekia Harvin at 803-774-1311. The Santee-Lynches Council of Governments office is located at 3219 Broad St. in Sumter.
