County Transfers 24 Plots to Aid in Affordable Housing, Help Homeless
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
In a move aimed at meeting the need for affordable housing while helping those who are homeless found permanent housing, Anderson County Council on Tuesday gave final approval to the donation 24 properties to non-profit groups in the county.
“This shows that council recognizes the need for more affordable housing,” said Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. “We also see this as a step to help provide these groups with what they need to help the homeless transition into permanent housing.”
The effort is funded by a $2.1 million of a grant allocated funds to address affordable housing for these projects and includes transferring the following properties:
129 Stone Drive, 1735 Belton Street, 1739 Belton Street, 2012 Oliver Street, 601 Hall Street and 700 Hall Street to Habitat for Humanity.
103 R Street, 104 Q Street, 106 R Street, 21 Q Street, 215 Richey Street, 259 Nixon Street, 5 P Street, 253 Nixon Street, 105 Masters Drive, 197 Cheek Street, 309 Corning Street, 120 Flowe Road, 219 Guy Street, 222 Hall Street, 28 South Hammett Street and 57 Harris Street to the Anderson Housing and Homeless Alliance.
Most of these are cleared off infield lots in neighborhoods which could use new housing starts.
1514 Minor Street and 1521 Minor Street to Hope Missions of the Upstate. These properties are part of the old Riverside Mill site, which have limited uses, but which allows for the construction of multiple housing units which will serve as transitional housing as the ministry works to move those who are homeless into permanent housing. Hope Missions helped more than 200 individuals find permanent housing in 2024.
The move is part of the county’s ongoing work with those who might need extra help, as the county seeks to serve all citizens.
“This is another wonderful component of the county’s work to provide affordable housing,” said Councilwoman Cindy Wilson, adding that the properties already had infrastructure in place.
In 2024, working with the Anderson County HOME Consortium grant funding, the county helped save 26 occupied homes spending $700,000 to replace roofs, electrical work, windows, plumbing and heating/air conditioning units. The county is recently working with Rebuild Upstate to upfit an additional 15 houses, and anticipates additional projects with that group funded by $1.2 million from the South Carolina Housing Trust Fund Disaster Assistance Program to help those impacted by recent natural disasters.
