Dec 09, 2024 Town of Hilton Head Housing Action Committee

[1. Call to Order ]

[00:00:09]

LET'S CALL THIS MEETING OF THE DECEMBER LINES 2024 HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE TO ORDER THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS OR FOR BUSINESSES TO SAY GOOD MORNING HOPE EVERYONE IS IS DOING WELL AS I'VE BECOME FOND OF SAYING OUR MEASURE EXISTS OF SUCCESS WITHIN THIS GROUP WILL THE PEOPLE WALKING IN FRONT DOORS OF HOUSING THEY CAN AFFORD ON MY LAND TO HOW TO ALSO ASSIST

[2. Adoption of Agenda ]

[3. Approval of the Minutes ]

[4.a. Program Updates - Quincy White, Chief Housing Officer ]

SO I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME A FEW HIGH UPDATES AND THEN I'M ASKING HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS THAT WE'VE HAD OR UPDATES SO WE'RE PLANNING FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE MONETARY MEETING AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. WE'RE LOOKING AT DATES IN JANUARY SO WE'RE STILL DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON OUR END BUT THOSE DATES AND IRIS WILL BE GOING SHORTLY HERE.

SO WORK IS ONGOING HABITAT WE ARE DOING A RIGHT NOW TO PROVIDE OUR CONCEPTUAL PLANS FOR THE SITE AS WELL AS BUILDING DESIGNS AND A NORTH POINT I'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH ONE SRI RESIDENTIAL TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE PROGRAMS IN REGARDS TO THE NORTH POINT PROJECT. SO AS WE CLOSE OUT THE YEAR I WANT TO SHARE A PREVIEW OF OUR 2024 ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A NEWSLETTER GO OUT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. THAT KIND OF OUTLINES ALL THE UPDATES IN REGARDS TO HOUSING.

SO HERE'S A FEW COLLABORATIONS WITH HABITAT AND CC AS YOU KNOW HABITAT CONTINUES THIS COLLABORATION WITH TOWN AND FOLLOWING ITS MENU APPROVAL BY TOWN COUNCIL FEBRUARY 26 HABITAT WAS AWARDED $500,000 OF FUNDING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY ON THE ISLAND FOR SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS. AS YOU KNOW, HABITAT HAS RECENTLY PURCHASED PROPERTY ON SPANISH WELLS ON THE CORNER OF SPANISH WELLS IN OAK VIEW ROAD FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING I WAS CDPQ WAS ALSO REWARDED 600,000 IN REGARDS TO DEVELOPING AND ACQUIRING SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS HERE THE ISLAND AS YOU KNOW OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THREE NEW MEMBERS BOTH DENNIS, KATIE AND JANET ARE OUR NEW MEMBERS SO THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE. SO ALSO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WAS AMENDED TO INCLUDE THE IMPACT ANALYSIS. AS YOU KNOW THE TOWN IS ON HAND KIND OF SPEARHEADED THAT EFFORT AT PROGRESSIVE STATE. THE HOUSING IMPACT ANALYSIS ALLOWED FOR ACCOMMODATION TAX TO BE USED FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. SO THAT'S THAT'S CERTAINLY A MAJOR THE HOUSING FUND COMMITMENT THE TOWN ALLOCATED $4 MILLION TO THE HOUSING FUND

[00:05:05]

AND OF COURSE AS I MENTIONED BEFORE IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS WE HAD OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS WE HAD TWO IN SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 5TH AND JONES FOR THOSE THAT SUMMER 12TH AND MURRAY CREEK IT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PROVIDE OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE WERE ABLE LEARN MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ABLE TO HEAR FROM TOWN STAFF IN REGARDS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPMENTS AND WE ALSO MOST RECENTLY HAD OUR COMMUNITY CLEANUP ON NOVEMBER 16TH IN THE MONKEY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAD NEARLY 60 VOLUNTEERS BETWEEN STAFF AND ISLAND RESIDENTS. WE COLLECTED ABOUT 2.5 TONS OF BULK ITEMS IN TRASH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'RE EXPECTING TO GO BACK IN JANUARY IN REGARDS TO THE UAP, THE QUALITY QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN WE DID PROVIDE COMMENTS TO TO ALLOW FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS THE MURRAY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PLAN WE'VE HAD SEVERAL COMMUNITY EVENTS IN REGARDS TO CRAFTING THAT PLAN AND THE PLAN WILL BE A COMMUNITY EFFORT AND THOSE EFFORTS ARE ONGOING. WE'RE HOPING TO PRESENT THEIR PLAN TO YOU ALL IN Q1 OF NEXT YEAR AT THE NORTH POINT WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FULLY EXECUTED ON JULY 25TH WHICH IS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN REGARDS TO THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TOWN ONE TRUE RESIDENTIAL TO BUILD THE NORTH POINT PROJECT SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT IF ADOPTED IF RECOMMENDED TODAY TO TOWN COUNCIL THE DISPLACEMENT MITIGATION SUPPORT PLAN WOULD THE FIRST OF ITS KIND ON THE ISLAND SETTING A NEW PRECEDENT FOR DISPLACEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUTLINING STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF DISPLACEMENT EVENTS IN JUST A FEW OTHERS. WELL ACTUALLY THAT'S THE END OF THAT LIST BUT LOOKING FORWARD INTO 2025 ONGOING COMMUNITY CLEANUP EVENTS I MENTIONED BEFORE ADDITIONAL CLEANUP EVENTS ARE BEING PLANNED FOR BOTH MONEY CREEK BROWNSVILLE ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN REGARDS THE PROPERTY OFF OF THE CORNER OF SPANISH WELLS AND O.C. ROAD ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH ONE THREE RESIDENTIAL IN REGARDS TO THE NORTHPOINT DEVELOPMENT OF COURSE IS RECOMMENDED TODAY DISPLACEMENT OPERATION PLAN CONTINUING THROUGH THE PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK IN REGARDS TO MUDDY CREEK AND OTHER PROGRAMS IN REGARDS TO HOUSING THE HOUSING METRICS DASHBOARD WE'RE FOR THIS DASHBOARD TO GO LIVE SOMETIME NEXT YEAR.

WE HAVE DATA POINTS AT THE FINGERTIPS OF RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING. THE BEAUFORT HOUSING AUTHORITY IS EXPECTING TO RELEASE A RFQ FOR A ROOT DEVELOPER FOR A DEVELOPER RATHER BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

IN REGARDS TO THE SANDALWOOD TERRACE PROPERTY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE PLANNING TO DROP THE PRIOR ROAD RFQ TO ONE OF NEXT YEAR FOLLOWING THE MONEY CREEK NEIGHBORHOODS PLAN. THIS WILL BE A PROJECT FOR HOME OWNERSHIP WITHIN THE MUDDY CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE'RE ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND THE WORKFORCE HOUSING COMMUNICATIONS PLAN IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DEVELOP AND MOVE FORWARD EARLY PART OF NEXT YEAR. SO THAT INCLUDES MORE PROGRAM UPDATES AND ALSO A RECAP OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS YEAR. THANK YOU.

I THINK VERY HELPFUL. ANY COMMENTS QUESTIONS FROM A HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS? I A COUPLE OF ONE IS THE THE 500,000 FOR HABITAT OR 600,000 FOR CC DC THOSE FUNDS ARE TOTALLY ACTUALLY DISPERSED WITH THEM AT THIS POINT RIGHT THERE I COULD SPEAK THE FUNDS TO HABITAT THOSE FUNDS WERE DISPERSED TO HABITAT THE SYSTEM PURCHASED THE PROPERTY OFF OF FOLKS WHO WROTE OKAY AND CC DC WAS TRANSFERRED EARLIER IN THE YEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S FULLY IN THEIR HANDS YET OR NOT.

I'M JUST OKAY GREAT. THANK YOU AND THE HOUSING IMPACT STATEMENT AS I RECALL WAS INTENDED TO FURTHER THE THE AVAILABILITY OF TAX FUNDS NEEDED THAT WAS A CHECK THE BOX PART OF THE EFFORT THAT NEEDED TO GO I GUESS TO COLUMBIA DO WE KNOW WHERE THAT IS AT THIS POINT OR WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE ON ON THE TAX AVAILABILITY? I BELIEVE THAT'S IN DISCUSSION WITH TOWN COUNCIL BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S A NECESSARY STEPS TO GET TO THAT POINT ONCE THE ADOPTION OF THE HOUSING IMPACT ANALYSIS WHICH MAKES AVAILABLE THOSE FUNDS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING THE VOTE FOR OTHERS AFTER FUNDS CONCERNS I SUPPOSE APPRECIATE THAT A PUBLIC COMMENT ON FROM PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT AT THIS POINT SO GOOD MORNING KEN

[00:10:03]

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WOULD CONVERT THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA I'M GOING TO SAY CALIFORNIA NO HOTEL CAROLINA WOULD HOTEL CAROLINA THESE IN FROM SHORT TERM VERY SHORT TERM RENTAL WHICH MOST OF IT IS CURRENTLY USED FOR TO LONG TERM HOUSING FOR THE LONG END OF HOUSING AND AGAIN I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THE PROJECT OTHER WHAT I DID AND THE QUESTIONS I DID ASK AND FOUND OUT WERE THAT THERE ARE I THINK 119 UNITS THERE THESE WOULD BE REMAIN 119 OR THEREABOUTS OBVIOUSLY SUBJECT TO REVIEW ZONING AND EVERYTHING ELSE BUT THAT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD NOT HAVE. AM I RESTRICTION ON NOW ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE THE CDC IS MEETING THE 50% REQUIREMENT FOR A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF OUR OF OUR RENTALS ARE VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MUCH OPPORTUNITY ON THE ISLAND SO BE ABLE TO SERVE A GOOD NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THAT CATEGORY IS WONDERFUL THEY WOULD NOT BE PLACING A LIMIT ON THAT I MY OPINION BE SELF-LIMITED SOMEONE THAT CAN AFFORD A ONE BEDROOM WITH A ROOM AND AN 800 OR A THOUSAND OR 1200 SQUARE FOOT UNIT IS NOT GOING TO MOVE INTO A STUDIO.

SO ANYWAY I WILL MAKE SURE THAT IF I MISSED IT. I HOPE THAT YOU BECOME AWARE AND BECOME SUPPORTERS GOES GOES THROUGH ALL THE PROPER REVIEW BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY PROJECT AND HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO MENTION TO YOU THANK YOU AND COULD YOU SHARE WITH US THE ADDRESS AT THE HOTEL CAROLINA. OH, I'M SORRY. IT'S RIGHT IN BACK OF PIRATE GOLF. SO IT'S ADJACENT TO SHELTER COVE AND SO VERY CONVENIENT I MEAN AGAIN LOOKING AT IT FROM A OVERALL PERSPECTIVE A GREAT LOCATION A LOT OF JOBS CLOSE BY AS PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS THERE AND AVAILABLE SO LOCATION SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE AS A CONVERSION OF A VERY SHORT TERM TO LONG AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS RESTRICTIONS PROBABLY RESTRICTION WILL EITHER BE PUT ON IT, THEY'LL VOLUNTEER, PUT THEM ON OR WILL BE PUT ON A RESUME AS FAR AS OCCUPANCY AND AS FAR AS HAVING TO BE LONG TERM AND I SURE YOU SHARE WITH US WHERE DEVELOPER IS IN THIS PROCESS BECAUSE TO MY KNOWLEDGE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL. I HAVEN'T I CAN'T GET INTO SPECIFICS.

I DON'T KNOW THEM SO I'M NOT REALLY PRESENTING A PROJECT HERE.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WHEN I MENTIONED THIS COMMITTEE WAS THERE WAS NO AWARENESS OF THIS COMMITTEE. THAT'S WHY I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT LOOKED AT MINUTES AND MINUTES. I REALLY LOOKED AT THE AGENDA MORE THE MINUTES AND SEE DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS? YEAH. SO I BELIEVE THIS PROJECT IS GOING THROUGH THE PRE-APPLICATION PROCESS RIGHT NOW SO THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT THAT CAN BE SHARED PUBLICLY AT THIS TIME. BUT YEAH I'M I'M AWARE OF WHAT

[00:15:02]

I MEAN SINCE IT'S NOT PRIVATE IT IS PUBLIC THINGS THAT ARE IN THE PIPELINE FOR AND I REALIZE THAT NOT ALL OF THESE APPLICATIONS COME TO FRUITION BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US TO KNOW HOW THE HAVE YOU KNOW LINE OF SIGHT TO THAT INFORMATION.

YEAH I AGREE. I AGREE AND I COULD CERTAINLY SHARE THAT INFORMATION WHICH YOU ALL I WILL GET WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TEAM AND GET AS MANY AS I CAN TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY EVERYBODY HERE AND THEN I'M GOING TO LEAVE OUT ANOTHER APPOINTMENT BUT AS WELL I WAS TOLD FROM THE AND THIS WAS FAMILY I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT THEY'VE HAD IT ON THEIR OPTION AT THE FAMILY COMPANY THAT MY GRANDSON WORKS FOR HAS HAD IT ON THEIR OPTION FOR A WHILE BUT THEN THEY'VE GOT TWO EXTENSIONS BUT THE EXTENSIONS AND FAIRLY SHORTLY SO THERE'S SOME URGENCY URGENCY TO THIS AND THE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ALL THE EFFORTS YOU PUT IN ON WORKFORCE HOUSING.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OTHER QUICK COMMENT ON THAT SUBJECT WE HOUSING ACTION COMMITTEE ARE NOT ONE OF THE STOPS ALONG THE WAY TO APPROVAL OF SPECIFIC PROJECTS. THE PROJECTS DON'T LOOK SPECIFICALLY THROUGH US BUT ON THE CONCEPT OF OLDER HOTEL PROPERTIES BEING CONVERTED ARE IN VERY POSITIVE WAY TO WORKFORCE HOUSING AFFORDABLY THAT'S I THINK THAT'S THAT COMMENT HAS COME UP BEFORE AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT AS A CONCEPT WE'RE VERY MUCH HOPING THE TOWN CAN LOOK AT THANK YOU THANKS. IN OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS POINT AND ANYTHING ELSE I

[4.b. Home Safety and Repair Program Updates - Sharonica Gavin, Principal Planner for Historic Neighborhoods ]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. SHARON GAVIN, PRINCIPAL PLANNER FOR HISTORIC FOR THE RECORD SO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD HAS A HOME SAVE TO REPAIR PROGRAM THAT WILL PAY UP TO $15,000 OF ELIGIBLE REPAIRS. THIS INCLUDES TO ROOFS, WINDOWS, DOORS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE HOME KEEPING IT SAFE AND KEEPING THE HOME DRY IT INCLUDES DEMOLITION OF UNINHABITED OR UNSAFE AS WELL AS THE REMOVAL OR TRIMMING OF TREES IN DANGER OF DAMAGING PROPERTY. NOW IN JULY 2024 THE TOWN RELAUNCHED THE HOME SAVING REPAIR PROGRAM WITH UPDATED INTERNAL PROCESSES TO IMPROVE EXPERIENCE FOR APPLICANTS CONTRACTORS AS WELL AS STAFF SINCE THE RELAUNCH PROGRAM ASSOCIATES HAVE CONDUCTED ROUGHLY 65 SITE VISITS. WE'VE COMPLETED 23 PROJECTS AND CURRENTLY HAVE 36 PROJECTS UNDER CONTRACT NOW THAT SINCE JULY OF 2024. SO WORK HAS BEEN BEING DONE HOWEVER I WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL SOME ADDITIONAL UPDATES AND OF THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2022. SO WE HAVE RECEIVED 147 APPLICATIONS NOW OF THOSE SOME DON'T MEET INCOME QUALIFICATIONS. OTHERS HAVE CHOSEN TO WITHDRAW OR AS WHICH ARE VERY MINIMAL AS WELL AS SOME NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

SO OF THOSE 147 ABOUT 113 ARE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED NOW OF THOSE WE HAVE COMPLETED 65 OF THESE PROJECTS AND WE HAVE 36 AT OUR CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT WITH ABOUT EIGHT AWAITING CONTRACTOR BIDS AS STATED MONTH. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR TO SEE IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE ALL CAN KIND OF COLLABORATE ON AS WELL LOOK FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ORDER TO GET IT DONE AND WITH THAT I'M DONE AFTER COMMENTS FROM HIS GAVIN I MIGHT ASK ONE ON THE CURRENT ALLOCATION OF DOLLARS IS RUN OUT ARE THERE OTHER FUNDING SOURCES ON THE HORIZON THEN? SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY AT THIS TIME.

[00:20:01]

ABSOLUTELY. I DO HAVE A I DO HAVE A QUESTION ACTUALLY IT'S A TWO PART. SO WHAT IS THE FULL BUDGET THAT YOU AND WHAT IS THE SHORTFALL? SO WE WERE ALLOCATED ABOUT 1.5 MILLION FOR HOME SAFE TO REPAIR AT THIS TIME IN THE REMAINING BUDGET WE ONLY HAVE ENOUGH TO KIND OF CONDUCT A TWO ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND HOW MUCH FUNDING WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR GRANTS THINK PRETTY MUCH AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY FIND I WON'T TELL YOU OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THE QUEUE.

I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 250 TO $300000 RIGHT NOW BUT THAT'S GOING TO GET US TO A POINT OF SUSTAINABILITY. WE NEED TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AS I STATED BEFORE, THE NEED IS THERE AND TO BE HONEST, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN PROVIDE MORE THAN $15,000 PER HOUSEHOLD THAT WILL DEFINITELY MAKE A LARGER IMPACT WITHIN THESE HOMES.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN CONDUCTING THESE SITE VISITS, I DO SAY THAT JUST FROM EXPERIENCE AND WHAT I'VE SEEN WHAT CAN WE DO TO TRY TO BE HELPFUL IN THIS BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE IT'S YOU VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM GOING AND WHY IS THE FUNDING SO ODD I WOULD SAY KEEP A LOOK OUT ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM OF COURSE SHARE THAT WITH QUINCY. QUINCY HAS ASSISTING IN IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THESE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS GOING TO SITE VISITS AND TRYING TO CONNECT WITH THE FAMILIES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO IF YOU ALL COME ACROSS FUNDING THAT WE CAN UTILIZE THAT WOULD BE GREATLY BENEFICIAL TO QUESTIONS, COMMENTS THANK YOU.

[4.c. Work Area Updates - Jack Alderman, Housing Action Committee Chair ]

I WAS HOPING MAYBE IN JANUARY THAT WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP DISCUSSING THE NEIGHBORHOOD

[00:25:03]

SO IF POSSIBLE SOMETHING IN JANUARY BUT IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE THE PRODUCT WE'D LIKE TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT DISCUSSION IS AS YOU KNOW AND WE COULD DEFINITELY DO THAT THAT'S CERTAINLY A SHOULD BE IN THIS GREAT THANK YOU. NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERING THE

[4.d. Consideration of Home Matters, Town of Hilton Head Island Displacement Mitigation Support Plan - Quincy White, Chief Housing Officer ]

SO TO YOUR POINT I WOULD THINK DEVELOPERS WILL BE MORE THAN WILLING TO FILL IT OUT BUT AGAIN TO THAT COMMENT THAT I DID RECEIVE IT DOES MAKE IT IS A VERY LENGTHY QUESTIONNAIRE JUST TO MAKE IT A BIT EASIER FOR DEVELOPERS ON THEIR ANYTHING ELSE COMMENTS CONCERNS I JUST HAD A QUICK COMMENT YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT I THINK IT'S PAGE FOUR OF THE DOCUMENT THERE'S THERE WAS THE RESPONSE OF WHY TOWN FUNDING COULDN'T BE USED OR DISPLACEMENT AND THE RESPONSE GIVEN WAS THAT IT CAN'T BE USED FOR PERSONAL BENEFITS BUT I'M JUST STRUGGLING TO SEE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHY IT COULDN'T BE USED WHEN WE CAN SPEND $1.5 MILLION HELPING PEOPLE REPAIR THEIR HOMES, THERE'S CLEARLY PERSONAL BENEFIT THERE AND I'M A HUGE PROPONENT THAT PROGRAM SO I'M NOT THROWING THROWING ANYTHING AT THAT PROGRAM. I'M JUST STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT CAN BE DONE FOR HOME REPAIR KIND OF BE DONE FOR DISPLACEMENT SO SHE CAN HELP ME WITH THAT.

SO THE MONIES THAT WERE UTILIZED FOR THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM WERE ARPA DOLLARS SO CALLED THE MONEYS THEY HAD DIFFERENT RESTRICTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM WHEREAS THIS THE QUESTION THAT WAS POSED WAS TOWN DOLLARS UTILIZED FOR THE DISPLACEMENT SUPPORT PLAN SO THAT'S WHY THE ANSWER WE PROVIDED WAS THAT PUBLIC FUNDS CANNOT BE UTILIZED FOR PERSONAL BENEFIT OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES MONEYS I GUESS IMPLIED IN THAT IS THAT THE ADDITIONAL MONEY IS ONLY COMING FORWARD FOR THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM BUT WITH THE POSITION OF THE TOWN WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR BUDGETED DOLLARS WOULD HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR FOR GRANTS THAT ARE GOING FORWARD OR IS THERE ARE WE COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES HERE? WELL, I THINK WE'RE COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES A LITTLE BIT . BUT I WILL SAY THE WORK OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO RAISE QUITE A FEW

[00:30:05]

SO I WOULD SAY AS OUR FUNDING SOURCE WE'RE REALLY CONFIDENT THAT THE FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY COULD RAISE ENOUGH FUNDS TO SUPPORT THIS PLACEMENT OF THEM AS YOU ANSWER, I WAS THE ONE THAT MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE VOLUNTARY.

I THINK A WAY TO MAYBE GET AROUND THAT IS SEPARATE INTO SELLER VERSUS BUYER QUESTIONS.

THERE IS SOME OVERLAP AND THEN YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO UNDER A PAGE SEPARATED THAT WAY. THANK YOU. ARE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON THIS ISSUE THE DISPLACEMENT MITIGATION PLAN APPROVAL OR NOT ARE YOU GOING TO VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE OPPOSED FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE A PARTY A LONG TIME A GOOD RESULT THANKS QUINCY FOR YOU AND TO ALL THE TOWN STAFF ALL YOUR HARD WORK THAT'S GONE INTO THIS AND A BUMPY ROAD AT TIMES AND FRUSTRATING BUT HERE WE ARE WE'RE READY TO GO ON THAT FIRST. THE NEXT STEP IS PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED AND WE PUT THE PLAN INTO ACTION WHERE DO THEY GO? AND THAT GETS US BACK TO SQUARE ONE OF OUR OF OUR MISSION HERE TO HAVE HOUSING AVAILABLE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY OCCUPY IF IF WE'RE REMOVED A NEW BUSINESS, ANY OTHER UNFINISHED BUSINESS WE NEED TO DISCUSS I'LL BRING THE CHAMPAGNE AND JANE YOU OH THANK YOU WE HAVE HICKS HERE TODAY TO DELIVER A

[5.a. Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust Program Overview - Claude Hicks, Executive Director, Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust ]

APPRECIATE YOU COMING. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. THERE WE GO.

OH, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS HEAR ME THESE THINGS AS THOUGH THEY THINK I KNOW HOW TO DO IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE YOU TODAY. BEAUFORT HOUSING JASPER HOUSING TRUST HAS DONE A LOT MY ARRIVAL HERE ON THE 1ST OF APRIL. SOME OF YOU IN THE ROOM HAVE BEEN PARTNERS WITH US ALREADY AND WE APPRECIATE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AT WORK. THANK YOU.

BEFORE JASPER HOUSING TRUST AS MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW IS A REGIONAL CONSORTIUM SIX MUNICIPALITIES BOTH COUNTIES BEAUFORT AND JASPER AS WELL AS SALAKO CAME OUT OF A REPORT CALLED OBSCURE ROBINSON REPORT THAT ABOUT HOW YOU COULD STRUCTURE A REGIONAL PROGRAM THAT THAT SPECIFIED WHAT AND HOW WERE GOING TO APPROACH AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITHIN THOSE TWO COUNTIES. OUR MISSION IS VERY SIMPLE. IT IS TO CREATE AND PRESERVE WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES.

I HOPE IT NEVER GETS BIGGER THAN THAT. IT'S VERY NICE TO HAVE A VERY SIMPLE MISSION THAT EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND AND EVERYBODY CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH AND AGREED TO SOME THINGS THAT WE WANT MAKE SURE OF AND WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE WITH VARIOUS GROUPS IS SOME CONCEPTS THAT PEOPLE HERE THEY MAY NOT NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN. MANY YOU IN THIS ROOM KNOW WHAT AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS.

WE DEFINE WORKFORCE HOUSING AS UP TO 120% OF VERY MEDIAN INCOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING 60% OR LESS OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME. WE WANT TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO BECAUSE THEY ARE ESPECIALLY HERE TWO VERY DISTINCT DIFFERENT THINGS. MOST OF THE TIME IN AFFORDABLE YOU WILL SEE SOMETHING REFERRED TO AS LOW TECH, LOW INCOME HOUSING CREDITS WHICH IS A FINANCING MECHANISM BUT WORKFORCE HOUSING MANY TIMES IS A REAL PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN ORDER TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THESE PROJECTS EXCUSE ME PROJECTS DONE. THE 30% AFFORDABILITY THRESHOLD EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT DEALS WITH THIS SUBJECT HAS MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT WHICH IS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT REALLY UNUSUAL THING THAT NO FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL PAY MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME FOR HOUSING. THIS THRESHOLD WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GO ABOVE THAT 30% THRESHOLD WE SEE NOW ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

[00:35:06]

IF YOU SEE THE LINE RIGHT THERE THAT GOES ACROSS THAT IS THAT REPRESENTS PEOPLE WHO COULD AFFORD A HOME AND NOT SPEND MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME IN MEDIUM PRICED HOME.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT LINE YOU WILL SEE FOR THE LAST 21 YEARS YOU'VE HEARD JASPER COUNTIES HAVE NOT HAD ONE PERIOD OF TIME WHERE WE MET THAT CRITERIA WHERE SOMEONE COULD AFFORD A HOME AND SPEND MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR MEDIAN INCOME AND 80% OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME THAT.

WHEN THIS WAS PRESENTED BY DR. ORRICK FROM FEDERAL RESERVE STOPPED EVERYONE IN THE ROOM INCLUDING THE FIVE MAYORS WHO WERE SITTING THERE. NO ONE THOUGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT HAD GOTTEN THIS BAD AND THE CRISIS WAS THIS INTENSE. IF YOU LOOK AT SAVANNAH, EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE IN BLUE ARE TIMES DURING THE LAST 20 YEARS WHEN THAT COULD BE THAT SOMEONE COULD BUY A HOUSE, NOT SPEND MORE THAN 30% OF THEIR INCOME.

SO SAVANNAH HAS DONE BETTER THAN WE HAVE DONE IN THIS AREA .

EVEN CHARLESTON HAS HAD PERIODS OF TIME OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS. THE BLUE OR THOSE PERIODS OF TIME WHERE THEY MET THAT THRESHOLD. JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTY HAVE NEVER MET THAT IN 20 YEARS. WHEN WE LOOK AT PRICING POTENTIAL HOMEBUYERS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE $170,000 A YEAR TO AFFORDABLY PURCHASE A MEDIAN PRICED HOME. JUST GOING BACK TO YOUR LAST CHART YOUR AMALGAMATING IS VERY JASPER. DOES JASPER EVER MADE IT BY ITSELF? IT'S NO. THE REALITY IS THIS IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO COME LIVE . IT IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO COME RETIRE.

THEY BRING THOSE DOLLARS HERE. IT IS A PLACE PRICES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN UP UNBELIEVABLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS AND IT HAS REALLY NEGATED ANY CHANCE THAT A MEDIAN MIDDLE INCOME FAMILY CAN AFFORD TO BUY A HOUSE. NOW WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THAT MIDDLE INCOME FAMILY CAN'T AFFORD TO RENT A HOUSE EITHER OR RENT APARTMENT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THREE BEDROOMS IN BEAUFORT ARE APPROACHING $3,000 A MONTH. WE YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND YOU THINK ABOUT A FAMILY THAT'S MAKING LET'S SAY $90,000 COMBINED INCOME $3,000 A MONTH IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE PAYING. IF YOU THINK ABOUT BUYING A HOUSE AND LOOK AT AN AVERAGE MORTGAGE INTEREST TAXES, COST OF UPKEEP FIRST OF ALL THERE'S NOTHING TO BUY. SECONDLY, IF THERE WERE, THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO BUY IT.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT MAGNIFIED EVEN MORE HERE IS WHAT'S CALLED THE PRESS DOWN EFFECT. SO WHAT YOU HERE IS YOU HAVE PEOPLE THE NORMAL PART OF THE POPULATION THAT WOULD BUY HOUSES CAN'T AFFORD THEM SO THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR A LUXURY RENTAL THAN THEY WERE TEN YEARS AGO. THEY OCCUPY THOSE APARTMENTS.

IT FORCES ALL OF THE MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES TO GO DOWN ONE LEVEL.

THEY'RE ENDING UP IN THE C AND B APARTMENTS. THAT'S A NICE THEN HAVE THE

[00:40:02]

PEOPLE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO GO. THERE'S NO OPTION THEM.

SO IF WE LOOK AT HILTON HEAD BETWEEN 2019 AND 2024, THE MEDIAN SALE PRICE HAS RISEN 14.7%. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT IN COMPARISON ACROSS THE U.S.

EXCUSE ME THE UNITED STATES THE GROWTH ACROSS THE UNITED STATES IS ONLY 5.1% ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN SEE HERE HILTON HEAD PRICING OBVIOUSLY ALL KNOW IT.

YOU FEEL IT EVERY DAY YOU LIVE HERE IS REALLY GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE EVEN THOSE THAT ARE THE HIGHER INCOME BRACKET ARE REALLY AT WHAT'S AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

YOU HAVE THOSE HOMEOWNERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY WHATEVER THEY CAN AFFORD TO BUILD WHATEVER. BUT THEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF HOMEOWNERS THAT HAVE MONEY THAT HAVE THE ABILITY BUT THERE'S JUST NOTHING IN THE MARKETPLACE THAT IS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BUY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MUST BE INTENTIONAL. WASHINGTON IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

NOT GOING TO DO IT. AND WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME WILL YES ? WILL THEY PROVIDE BILLIONS TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THERE IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION SITTING IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF TAX CREDITS COMING TO EVERY STATE IN THE UNION IF THAT HAPPENED TODAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA EVERY AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION THIS YEAR WOULD HAVE BEEN AWARDED. THE REALITY IS THAT THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION HAS SAT IN THE SENATE FOR TEN YEARS BECAUSE IT CANNOT ATTACH ITSELF TO ANY PIECE OF LEGISLATION ACTUALLY GET APPROVED. WHY THAT? BECAUSE THERE IS A FACTION IN WASHINGTON D.C. THAT BELIEVES THIS IS A TAXPAYER ISSUE.

IT'S NOT PRIVATE COMPANIES BUY TAX CREDITS THAT HAS NO IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS.

SO IT HAS SAT THERE AND IT SAT THERE FOR TEN YEARS AND I HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL GET ONTO A PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION. NO, I'M NOT.

SO IT WILL PROBABLY GO 14 YEARS SITTING IN THE SENATE BEFORE THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION REALLY LOOKS AT IT. WORKFORCE HOUSING HAS TO BE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS.

IT HAS TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY, WHO ARE WILLING TO TRY AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THEIR COSTS. IT HAS TO BE PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT INVOLVE PUBLIC ENTITIES THAT ARE WILLING TO GIVE LAND THAT ARE WILLING GIVE SOME REGULATORY RELIEF BUT ARE WILLING TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN HOUSING AND IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WORKFORCE HOUSING.

THIS HAS BECOME HERE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, YOU ALL KNOW IT . WE ARE HAVING A WORKFORCE CRISIS. WE'VE BEEN HAVING ONE HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND EVERYBODY JUST OF HOPED IT MIGHT GO AWAY. IT'S NOT GOING TO. BUT IT'S AFFECTING EVERYTHING.

WE'VE GOT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, ONE OF OUR GRANTEES AND OUR FIRST ROUND.

THEY CANNOT FIND NURSES BECAUSE NURSES DON'T WANT TO COME HERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD A PLACE TO LIVE. SO WHAT ARE THEY DOING? 30% OF DO FOR MEMORIALS NURSING STAFF IS TRANSIENT NURSES. THEY COME IN THEY SAY HUNDRED AND 20 DAYS BY LAW THEY GET A 20 $500 TAX FREE PER MONTH BONUS. THEY HAVE A LITTLE CAMPING TRAILER THAT THEY PARK OUTSIDE OF BEAUFORT AFTER THE FOUR MONTHS GOES BY THEY GET IN THEIR TRAILER AND THEY GO TO OKLAHOMA. WHEN THEY GO TO ALASKA IF I'M A YOUNG NURSE IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SEE THE COUNTRY, A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOSPITAL.

IT LOSES THAT STAFF EVERY 120 DAYS. IT LOSES THE NORMAL CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY THAT YOU HAVE WHEN SOMEONE ACTUALLY LIVES IN THE PLACE THEY WORK AND IT CAUSES ECONOMIC CHAOS WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CRISIS EVERY 120 DAYS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS PAST YOU'VE GOT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TWICE REACHED WHAT THEY CALL MAXIMUM CAPACITY WHERE THEY HAD PATIENTS IN THE ON GURNEYS. THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO TREAT THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS

[00:45:05]

THAT WILL BE A BIG STORY. NEWSPAPER WILL RUN AND EVERYBODY WILL GET UP IN ARMS. SO WHAT CAN WE DO. AND IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE FOR NURSES TO LIVE.

THERE'S NO PLACE FOR A HOSPITAL STAFF TO LIVE. SO WE IN OUR FIRST PROGRAMING CONCENTRATED ON THREE AREAS. ONE WAS DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

SECOND WAS HOME REPAIR. AND THE THIRD WAS FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS.

SO AS WE PUT OUR RFQ AND RFP OUT WE GOT 14 APPLICATIONS. WE CHOSE OF THEM AND WE CHOSE THEM BASED ON WHETHER OR THEY HAD THE CAPACITY TO BEGIN WORK IMMEDIATELY, WHETHER THEY HAD SOMETHING THAT FIT WITH WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO. BY AND LARGE OUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM WAS THE NUMBER ONE INITIATIVE ACROSS THE BOARD. EVERYBODY SEES THE CRISIS THERE AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FUNDS TO APPLY TOWARDS IT. SO YOU RECOGNIZE DEEP WELL HABITAT. THOSE TWO WERE ON OUR LIST OF EIGHT GRANTEES.

THEY'RE DOING WONDERFUL WORK IN THE AREA. SO WHAT HAVE WE DONE TODAY? WE'VE PUT $500,000 IN A LOAN PROGRAM GUARANTEED MANOR WHICH IS A LOW TAX SENIOR FACILITY AND BEFORE IT'S UNDERWAY SHOULD BE FINISHED WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION.

$619,000 IN GRANT FUNDING FOR HOME REPAIRS. $364,000 IN GRANT FUNDING FOR HOMEBUYER ASSISTANCE. $600,000 IN GRANT FUNDING TO THESE KDC IN THAT PROGRAM.

THE COUNTY WANTED TO GIVE THE MONEY TO CD3 BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PAPERWORK OR FOLLOW THE MONEY. SO THEY CAME TO US AND SAID WILL YOU DO FOR US? TO DATE 300,000 OF THAT $600,000 HAS BEEN DEPLOYED AND I BELIEVE THAT 1313 HOMES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED. IT WILL NOW BE RENTED AT AFFORDABLE RATES.

WE THESE ARE OUR GOALS THAT WE WANT TO AND ACHIEVE WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE PUT OUT SO FAR THE MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN BY THE REGIONAL PARTNERS .

THE STATE HAS ALSO ADDED A $3 MILLION CHECK WHICH WAS WE RECEIVED IN THE MAIL.

IF YOU COMPLETE THAT $3 MILLION CHECK OF THE MAILBOX. BUT THE ONLY WAY THAT DAVIS GOT THAT FUND THE ONLY WAY WAS BECAUSE HE TOLD THE LEGISLATURE THAT IT WAS GOING TO A REGIONAL APPROACH AND IT WAS GOING TO PARTNERS WHO PUT UP MONEY AND MADE PLEDGES TO PUT UP MONEY THE NEXT TEN YEARS. AND HILTON HEAD IS ONE OF THOSE PARTNERS.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING NEXT? WE APPROVED TO BE A QUALIFYING SPONSOR FOR THE STATE ON REPAIR FUNDS. THAT WAS A BRUTAL PROCESS AND I'M HAPPY THAT JENNIFER VOLUNTEERED TO DO THE HUNDRED AND 20 PAGE APPLICATION. WE GOT APPROVAL AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR FIRST TWO HOMES THAT. WE WERE GOING TO PUT UP TO $75,000 EACH IN AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE PROGRAM.

WE'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO DO TWO HOUSES FIRST. I WANT TO SEE IF WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. AFTER 30 YEARS I THINK I DO. BUT COLUMBIA IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL SO WE'LL SEE. WE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.

THEY CAME TO AND SAID THEY HAD SET ASIDE $50,000 FOR HOME REPAIRS AND THAT CLEARLY WASN'T GOING TO BE ENOUGH. WHAT WOULD WE DO? WE PLEDGED $100,000 FROM OUR STATE FUNDS AND THE CITY WOULD PUT IN $150,000. SO VERY SOON YOU'LL SEE AN RFP GOING OUT TO RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF BEAUFORT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM.

IT WILL BE INCOME BASED. IT WILL BE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THE STATE PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE BUT WE HOPE TO DEPLOY THAT VERY QUICKLY. THE CITY HAS ASKED THAT THE MAXIMUM PER HOUSE GRANT ON THAT PROGRAM BE $50,000 PER HOUSE SO HUNDRED $50,000 WON'T GO VERY FAR BUT IT WILL THOSE HOUSES THAT ARE REALLY IN NEED. WE'RE LOOKING AT SIX POTENTIAL LAND SITES AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT. WHEN YOU HIRE AN OLD DEVELOPER WHO'S BEEN AROUND FOR 30 YEARS DOING THIS, IT MIGHT ATTRACT OTHER DEVELOPERS WHO COME HERE AND SAY WHY ARE YOU HERE AND WE

[00:50:01]

I WANT TO POINT OUT PARTICULARLY ON THE HABITAT DONATION WE PUT ENOUGH MONEY INTO THE HABITAT FUND TO GIVE EACH OF THE HARTVILLE TEN UNIT HABITAT PROJECT THEIR FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS DOWN PAYMENT. SO IT WAS I THINK $9,000 EACH. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT THAT HAPPENED, PROUD TO GET THAT IN THERE. WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT DEEP WELL IS OF OUR PARTNERS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH. WE HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF GRANTEES THAT WE HAVE IN 2025 OR OVER TO STILL WORK IN OUR AND STILL WORKING ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO STRUCTURE THAT AND WHO GOING TO SERVE.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IN PARTICULAR OUR HOMEBUYERS FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS PROGRAM.

IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE IT. IT'S GREAT THAT WE CAN PARTICIPATE.

WE'RE FINDING THAT OUR INCLUDING THE HOSPITAL OUR GRANTEES ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING HOMES THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY BUY AND PROVIDE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS ASSISTANCE ASSISTANCE. HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR WITH HILTON HEAD SO I WON'T READ THEM ALL BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING TO BUILD OUR PARTNERSHIP HERE.

WE KNOW THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT AREA TO TRY FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE.

BUT WE'VE DEALT WITH QUINCY, WE MET WITH TOM BOSLEY, WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS.

WE HAVE PUT TOM ON OUR BOARD AND HE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN THE DIRECTION THAT HILTON HEAD IS GOING AND WHAT WE CAN DO. SO WE HOPE THAT THAT CONTINUES TO GROW.

WE MET WITH COUNCIL AND YOU SOME OF YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF RECENTLY TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE COULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND HOW WE COULD DO MORE IN PARTICULAR ABOUT YOUR HOME REPAIR PROGRAM. THIS IS OUR BOARD. MANY OF THE NAMES THAT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE IT IS PRONE TO BE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN APRIL A BOARD THAT KIND OF SORTA KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO A BOARD THAT HAS NOW FORMED THREE COMMITTEES THAT HAS NOW REALLY BEEN ACTIVE IN HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND IT IS MADE UP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE HOUSING BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME AND THEN NEWCOMERS WHO ARE JUST INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING TO HELP AND AND CONTRIBUTING. SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT BOARD TO WORK WITH. WHO IS IT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO REALLY IMPACT THESE AND MANY OTHER FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE HERE IN ORDER FOR THEM TO WANT TO WORK HERE IN ORDER THEM TO REALLY DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE DONE THAT MAKES THE COMMUNITY REALLY THRIVE AND REALLY MOVE AND REALLY WORK TOGETHER WITHOUT THEM YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AS DR. ULRICH POINTED OUT, THE ENTIRE STATE OF MARYLAND IS NOW CALLED A DYING STATE. THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE LEAVING THAN THERE ARE COMING IN.

THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING AT MARYLAND AS A PLACE THEY DO NOT WANT TO LIVE AS OPPOSED TO SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE EVERYBODY WANTS TO LIVE. PART OF THAT ISSUE IN MARYLAND BECAUSE HOUSING GOT SO HIGH AND COST SO GREAT AND TAXES BECAME SO CUMBERSOME THAT PEOPLE JUST LEFT. THEY JUST LEFT AND THE JOB MARKET IS GOOD.

THEY CAN FIND A JOB SOMEWHERE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE MARRIED TO THE JOB THEY HAVE SO THEY GET YOU HANG THEIR BACK UP AND THEY DO WHAT ALL OF US DID. WE WERE YOUNG.

WE TOOK A CHANCE ON SOMEPLACE ELSE. WE TOOK A CHANCE ON A NEW JOB AND WE MOVED OUT. I LIVED IN BALTIMORE FOR YEARS. IT IS AWFUL TO BE PART OF A DYING CITY. IT IS AWFUL TO WONDER IF YOUR HOUSE CATCHES ON FIRE WHETHER THE FIREMEN ARE GOING TO GET THERE IN TIME TO SAVE ANYTHING .

SOUTH CAROLINA IN ALMOST EVERY METRIC IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO COME LIVE.

THEY WANT TO MOVE HERE. THEY TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

[00:55:04]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU GOD FOR AN OUTSTANDING OF AND YOU HAVE THIS IN A PRINTED COPY HERE. FOR THE PUBLIC IT'S ALSO ONLINE AT THE TOWN THAT YOU SEE ON WHAT A GREAT WORK IS IS GOING ON. COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FIRST FROM A PANEL HERE AND THEN FROM THE PUBLIC. I ASK THE QUESTION WHY ARE THE OPEN SEATS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM HILTON HEAD JASPER COUNTY? ARE THEY NEW SEATS THAT JUST HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED YET? THEY'RE NOT.

JASPER COUNTY'S OPENING IS RELATIVELY NEW. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM JASPER COUNTY DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO OPEN UP HER OWN BUSINESS AND SHE WANTED TO CONCENTRATE THAT . HILTON HEAD HAS NOT ASSIGNED A MEMBER IN OVER A YEAR.

WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S IN PROCESS AND THAT WILL BE A REPRESENTATIVE IN 2025.

AND ONE OF OUR QUESTION WITH REGARD TO THE CRISIS IN NURSING CARE AND YOU MAY NOT BE THE APPROPRIATE PERSON TO ANSWER THIS BUT I JUST WANT TO THROW IT OUT THERE.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WITH REGARD TO AT LEAST THE HOSPITAL NOW THAT IS NO IS INVOLVED AND HILTON HEAD IS A NONPROFIT. IT SEEMS WITH NONPROFITS WHO WOULD BE AN ABILITY TO WORK WITH PRIVATE AND ALSO THE MUNICIPALITY TO COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THIS. THESE ARE ABILITY FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE WHICH WE HAVE MANY IN THIS AREA TO CONTRIBUTE AND GET CREDIT FOR THAT NAMED WINGS AFTER THEM OR WHATEVER BUT YOU JUST SEE AN ABILITY THAT WE CAN IN ADDITION TO BUILDING HOSPITALS SINCE THEY NEED SO BADLY WORKERS AND THAT THAT COULD BE TRANSLATED TO HOUSING I MEAN I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE. IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY TO GET MONEY FROM WEALTHY PEOPLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO NONPROFIT HOSPITALS.

SO WITH RESPECT TO MEMORIAL WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO DEVELOP TWO PROGRAMS. ONE IS A RENTAL PROGRAM THAT WOULD HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR HOSPITAL STAFF.

WE'RE WANTING TO MAKE SURE WITH FAIR HOUSING LAWYERS THAT WE STRUCTURE THIS THE RIGHT WAY.

THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXCLUSIVELY FOR HOSPITAL STAFF AND A PREFERENCE FOR A HOSPITAL STAFF. WHAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT IS WORKING WITH A PRIVATE MANAGER OR MANUFACTURER. IF WE COULD GET A PIECE OF LAND WE'RE TALKING TO THE COUNTY ABOUT A PIECE OF LAND THAT IS AVAILABLE AND WE COULD PUT UP TO 25 MODULAR UNITS ON IT AT A PRICE POINT THAT WOULD THAT A NURSE WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.

THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH GOVERNMENT. YOU WOULD THINK THAT IF I SAID WE'RE GOING TO BUILD 25 HOMES EXCLUSIVELY FOR HOSPITAL STAFF THAT GOVERNMENT WOULD SAY WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? HOW DO YOU WANT ME TO HELP? INSTEAD THEY SAID WELL WE DON'T LIKE THE WAY THIS MODULAR UNIT LOOKS. WE WANTED TO LOOK MORE LIKE HOUSE SO WE WANT DIFFERENT WINDOWS AND WE WANT A DECK AND WE WANT A DOOR AND.

WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE YOU KNOW, LIKE A HOUSE AS IT IS HOUSE.

WHY SHOULD OUR HOMES ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE? IF YOU'VE EVER TAKEN A LOOK AT THE MARKETPLACE SO IT'S GETTING OVER THAT AUTOMATIC WAY TO THINGS AND THERE IS SUCH A

[01:00:06]

THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE WHO ARE THINKING YOU KNOW WHAT DOES HAPPEN IF I WALK IN AND I'M HAVING A HEART ATTACK? WHAT I MEAN AM I GOING TO GET THE BEST OF CARE? AM I GOING TO GET PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY AND, CARE ABOUT ME AND CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS? YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THERE ARE ENOUGH RESOURCES.

IT IS THE TIME THAT IT TAKES. SO A NORMAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER TAKES BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE YEARS FROM THE TIME THEY SEE A PIECE OF LAND TO THE TIME THAT THEY ACTUALLY OPEN THE DOORS AND SOMEBODY ACTUALLY WALKS IN IN THE PRIVATE MARKET IT'S FASTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE DOLLARS AVAILABLE TO THEM THEY'RE NOT COMPETING FOR BUT THEY ARE.

I A CALL THE OTHER DAY FROM A DEVELOPER WHO SAID I WANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH SOMETHING. I WAS LIKE SURE DOES IT HAVE TO DO WITH HOUSING? YES IT DOES. THE COUNTY IS MAKING ME BUILD A $2 MILLION ROAD TO NOWHERE IN MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND IT'S MY RENTAL PRICES ON THAT COMPLEX TO GO 2700 FOR A TWO BEDROOM TO 3200 FOR A TWO BEDROOM. AND YOU HELP ME.

I SAY NO. I CAN'T HELP YOU STOP A ROAD TO KNOW WHERE I HELP YOU SIT DOWN WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND TALK ABOUT WHY WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WHAT IS IT THAT REQUIRES? HOW CAN WE CHANGE? HOW CAN WE LOOK DIFFERENTLY AT REGULATION. BUT IT TAKES A LONG TIME. EVERY GROUP THAT I HAVE MET WITH AND YOU GUYS ARE THE THINK 76 OR 77 SINCE THE 1ST OF APRIL HAVE SAID HOW DO WE GET HOUSING NOW? WE NEED IT NOW. WE HAVE A CRISIS NOW.

AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT VARIOUS THINGS AND QUINCY AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.

DO WE BUY OLD BUILDINGS AND RENOVATE THEM, TURN THEM INTO OR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THAT BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING IT ON THE RENTAL. THEY'RE CONVERTING HOTEL ROOMS AFFORDABLE. IF YOU GUYS A LOOK AT ONE THAT WAS BUILT IN BEAUFORT NAMED BEBO THAT WAS BUILT ON EFFICIENCIES USED TO BE A MOTEL AND THEY EXPECTED KIND OF A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL GROUP TO BE THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE. IT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE SINGLE WOMEN OVER 70 YEARS. SO BUT THEY THAT VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY HAD A BUILDING THAT WAS THERE. WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT ANOTHER HOTEL IN TOWN IS BEING AT.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL HOTELS AND SEVERAL BUILDINGS. I CAN YOU AS SOMEBODY WHO'S BUILT OVER 250 PROJECTS CONVERTING, SOMETHING THAT WAS BUILT FOR SOME OTHER REASON IS REALLY TO CONVERT INTO HOUSING AND VERY EXPENSIVE BUT IT CAN BE AND YOU HAVE A PLACE HERE WHERE YOU HAVE DOLLARS YOU HAVE ACCESS TO MONEY. IT'S MARSHALING THOSE TOGETHER . IT'S GETTING OVER THE NORMAL OBJECTIONS AND ACTUALLY PUTTING PEOPLE IN HOUSING. THAT WAS A LONG WINDED WAY OF ANSWERING YOUR I THINK YOUR FIRST YEAR WAS EYE OPENING EXCELLENT INFORMATION. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

OH, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. SO OBVIOUSLY WITH DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON JUST OUTSIDE OF SAVANNAH IT'S GOING TO CREATE 10,000 PLUS JOBS WITH NO HOUSING WITH CASPER OR 35 MINUTE DRIVE FROM THERE ETC. ALSO HAVE TO DO TO BE SHUT.

THE IDEA BEING THAT IS THERE ANY COORDINATION WITH GEORGIA AS GEORGIA HAS DOLLARS.

THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY I'M LOOKING I'M IS THERE SOME COORDINATION BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THE BIGGER THING OF A BIGGER PROBLEM. I, I THINK MAYBE ON A 10,000 FOOT LEVEL THERE'S SOME THOUGHT ABOUT HOW DO WE DO THIS AND HOW OR WHERE IS EVERYBODY GOING TO LIVE AND ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE IN? IT'S KIND OF FUNNY WHEN WE I SAT IN A MEETING WITH THE MAYOR OF HARTVILLE WHO WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF BUGGIES COMING TO THAT AREA AND WHILE HE ON ONE HAND ONCE BUCKY'S THE NAME AND EVERYTHING

[01:05:07]

HE REALLY WANTS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS. AND IT'S SO HARD THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE. YOU'VE GOT TO DRIVE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE NOW LOOKING AT GEORGIA AS THE NEXT GOLDEN PLACE TO GO AND HEAR THOUGH WHEN THEY AT PEOPLE IN JASPER COUNTY AND THEY ASK THE QUESTION IS IT EASY ME TO BUILD THERE AND DEVELOP THERE? IT'S CLEARLY IT'S WORTH IT BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THE MEDIAN INCOME AND WHEN I LOOK AT RENTAL PRICES FOR A DEVELOPER THAT'S VERY ENTICING AND THE FACT THAT SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE NUMBER FOUR PLACE AND THE UNITED STATES WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING. MYRTLE BEACH THE NUMBER ONE PLACE ON A PER CAPITA BASIS.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY BUT IT IS. WE HAVE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHY IS IT THAT ARE GOING TO HARTVILLE TO LIVE? WHY IS IT THAT PEOPLE HAVE MOVED OUT TO JASPER COUNTY? WHY IS IT THAT IS NOW COME TO US AND SAID WE WOULD LIKE WE THINK WE'D LIKE TO BE PART THE CONSORTIUM REGIONAL FOR JASPER HOUSING TRUST.

IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR A CHEAP PLACE TO LIVE. THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THE DRIVE IF INSTEAD OF 20 $500 A MONTH THEY'RE PAYING 1200 DOLLARS A MONTH THEY'LL DO IT.

THAT GAS BE NOTHING. IT'S EASY DEAL. THERE'S ISSUES THAT I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF BUT EXAMPLE THE HYUNDAI PLANT IS GOING TO USE AS MUCH WATER A DAY AS HILTON USES AND THAT'S COMING OUT OF GEORGIA HAS GUARANTEED THEM WATER WHERE THAT WATER IS COMING FROM NO ONE KNOWS. YOU'VE GOT SAME BEAUFORT JASPER WATER HAS SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY TO BUILD. THEY ARE THEIR COSTS GONE UP 30% IN THE LAST YEAR AND AND THEY WILL GO UP ANOTHER 30% IN JANUARY AND IF WE BUILD A PORT AGAIN OR WORKERS NO THING THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT UNFORTUNATELY ALTHOUGH HOUSING AS YOU SAID IS A THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE YEAR PROCESS INFRASTRUCTURE IS A TEN OR 20 YEAR PROCESS AND WE GET ABOVE OUR PAY GRADE HERE BUT IT'S STUFF THAT HAS TO BE CONSIDERED AS WE LOOK AT THE LONG TERM ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS GET FUNDED.

THE NICE ABOUT SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FEDERAL DOLLARS FLOW TO INFRASTRUCTURE A LOT BUT IT STILL REQUIRES LOCAL AS WERE LOOKING AT. I ASKED JENNIFER HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN SAVANNAH AND DRIVE HERE EVERY DAY GO TO WORK A LOT MORE THAN YOU THINK A LOT MORE THAN YOU THINK BECAUSE THE COSTS THERE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER THAN THEY ARE HERE.

AND YOU CAN ARGUE ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PLACE SAVANNAH IS TO LIVE VERSUS WHAT KIND OF PLACE THIS IS TO LIVE. BUT IF I'LL PUT IT THIS WAY IF WE DON'T HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS NOW TEN YEARS FROM NOW, THIS WILL BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE USED TO WANT TO COME TO LIVE.

THEY WILL GO SOMEPLACE ELSE. CHARLESTON HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF KEEPING UP WITH EVERYTHING BUT THEY'VE HAD THE MONEY TO DO IT BUT THEY'VE HAD THE POLITICAL WILL TO DO IT AS WELL. AND YES, SO QUITE A GREAT PRESENTATION.

SO YOU SO MUCH. MY QUESTION IS THAT OPENING ON THE BOARD THAT'S THE HILTON HEAD OPENING WAS THAT TONY ALFIERI? IT WAS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS SO FORGIVE ME BUT HOW DOES ANOTHER PERSON HOW IS SOMEONE'S WHAT IS THE PROCESS? SO THERE ARE CURRENTLY BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE AT LARGE THEY JOINED THE BOARD BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO AND THEN WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH OF THE REGIONS AND THE COUNTIES AND LOCAL IT'S UP TO THAT REGION TO NOMINATE AND TO NAME THAT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD. WE DON'T HAVE A PART OF THAT. WE JUST THEY JUST COME AND SAY I'M THE REPRESENTATIVE. THAT'S THE OPENING THE TOP HANDS.

SO IT'S THE ARM PINS HANDS IS AN AT-LARGE MEMBER. HE IS NOT HE DOES NOT REPRESENT HILTON HEAD. WE TELL HIM YES. THE RECOMMENDATION THEY DO THIS IS NOT GIVE A WARM AND FUZZY FEELING ABOUT HOW MUCH PRIORITY THIS IS TO THE FOR ALL TOWN PEOPLE BUT TO THE TOWN IT SEEMS LIKE ENORMOUSLY LONG PERIOD OF TIME ON A VERY VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC TO HAVE AN OPENING BUT MAYBE I'M BEING UNFAIR SO I WOULD AGREE THAT

[01:10:07]

YOU'RE ON REGARDING I GUESS THIS IS A SUPPLY DEMAND QUESTION ON HILTON HEAD AS THE REQUESTS FOR HELP MATCHED WITH YOUR DOLLARS AVAILABLE OR HAVE THERE BEEN MANY REQUESTS FOR HELP FROM THIS FROM HILTON HEAD SPECIFICALLY I'M ASKING WELL YES THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE SO IN ADDITION TO THE GRANTEES WHO GOT FUNDING FROM US AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN HILTON HEAD QUINCY AND I HAVE MET ABOUT THE NORTH POINT PROJECT AND ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP THERE. TOM BOSLEY HAS MET WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT HIS PROGRAMS KIND OF PUT TOGETHER IN HIS DIRECTION, PUT TOGETHER TALKING TO US ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP THERE. AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION AND CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP ON THE HOME REPAIR SIDE. SO WE'RE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE HOW DO WE MAKE AN IMPACT, HOW DO WE HELP OVERALL DO YOU SEE THE SAUCES ON THE HORIZON FOR FOR FUNDING IN THE THE TWO COUNTIES AS A WHOLE TO COVER DEMAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR NO FOR HELP NO NO SO WE HAVE TO APPROACHES THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE ONE IS HOW DO WE GET FUNDING OUT INTO MUNICIPALITIES INTO THE COUNTIES IN AN IMPACTFUL WAY BUT THE OTHER THING IS HOW DO WE MAKE THE TRUST SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG RUN AND HOW DO WE DO WE BECOME PARTNERS, WE BECOME DEVELOPERS WHICH IS NOT WHAT I THINK ANYBODY WANTS US TO DO CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I WANT TO DO AFTER 15,000 UNITS I'M TIRED BUT. I PLAN TO GO TO SENATOR DAVIS AND ASK TO TRIPLE THE AMOUNT THAT THE STATE GAVE US. WE HAVE GONE TO THE STATE AND SAID YOUR HOME REPAIR FUND IS PREDICATED ON TAXES THAT ARE PAID ON REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS AND YOU HAVE THIS POT THAT YOU DON'T USE. TO GIVE YOU AN YEAR BEFORE LAST AND A $20 MILLION ONE ROOF AND ONE DECK THAT FIXED THAT WAS IT. AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE CAME OVER AND SAID WHY THE HECK ARE YOU NOT DEPLOYING THESE FUNDS? AND SO DID A LITTLE BIT MORE THIS PAST YEAR. WHAT WE HAVE SAID IS IF YOU FOR JASPER TAXES REPRESENT X PERCENT OF THAT POT LET'S SAY IT'S 20% GIVE US THE 20 MILLION THE 20% OR $20 MILLION AND WE'LL DISBURSE THOSE FUNDS IN A MATTER OF ABOUT 60 DAYS. THEY DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE THAT APPROACH BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT SOUTH CAROLINA IS COMPETING FOR. WE'RE NOT SURE IF THEY'RE GOING TO GET IT OR NOT.

THAT IS SPECIFIC DESIGNED TOWARDS MODULAR AND MOBILE HOMES.

AGAIN, WE HAVE SAID TO THE STATE GIVE THE COUNTIES THE MONEY AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN PROBABLY BEST EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER IS WE'RE DOING WITH BEAUFORT ON THEIR CITY HOME REPAIR FUND. THEY CAME TO US AND SAID WE'LL PUT UP MONEY WILL. YOU PUT UP MONEY. WILL YOU MANAGE THE PROGRAM FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. OUR RESPONSE WAS WE WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT BUT WHAT WE'D LIKE YOU TO THINK ABOUT LONG TERM IS TO MAKE THIS A PERPETUAL FUND, PUT IT AS A PART OF YOUR BUDGET EVERY SINGLE YEAR HILTON HEAD HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THAT ALREADY IN YOUR BUDGET. I MEAN IT'S A WHOPPING AMOUNT OF MONEY SO DOESN'T MEET THE ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS BUT WAY AHEAD OF WHAT ANYBODY ELSE IS

[01:15:08]

IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT WILL EVER GO AWAY.

IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT WILL EVER KIND OF GET SOLVED.

WE WILL ALWAYS LOOK AT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, BRING DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO IT TO TRY AND GET DONE. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JUST PAID IN THAT EFFORT.

OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE BY VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORTS WE HOPE THE TRUST IS AROUND FOR A LONG TIME AND CAN DO SOME GREAT WORK QUESTIONS FOR CLAUDE FOR COMMENTS BEFORE WE ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT BUT JUST TO COMMENT THAT I AM SO SO THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR SLUGGING THROUGH THAT MONSTER APPLICATION SO YOU CAN BE THE QUALIFIED SPONSOR.

I THINK THAT'S A HUGE STEP TOWARDS UNLOCKING SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS THAT ARE SITTING IN NOT HELPING ANYONE ANYWHERE IN THE STATE. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY HATS OFF AND KUDOS TO YOU GUYS FOR TAKING THAT INITIATIVE AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN THAT THAT REALLY CAN BE USED AND I'VE SAID THIS TO OTHER GROUPS I THOUGHT THAT BE PRETTY EASY FOR ME TO CALL AND SAY WE'LL BE A SPONSOR WE NEED AND WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS YOU HAVE TO COME TO SO YOU CAN DO THAT VIRTUALLY NO YOU HAVE TO COME TO COLUMBIA AND THERE'S ONLY 20 SLOTS SO YOU'RE IN NUMBER 20 OKAY GO TO COLUMBIA AT THE COLUMBIA AND THE VERY FIRST THING THAT THE TO PEOPLE THERE SAID WAS THIS IS THE DIRECTOR'S LAST DAY WE DON'T HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR SO WITHOUT ANY DIRECTOR THE PROGRAM REALLY CAN'T GO FORWARD .

SO WITH THAT LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU APPLY FOR MONEY FOR TO BE A SPONSOR.

SO AS I BEGIN TO TALK THEY SAID YOU NEED TO BE TO HAVE SOME LIQUIDITY.

ONE GUY STOOD UP AND SAID I CAME HERE THINKING YOU WERE GOING TO GIVE ME MONEY.

YOU'RE TELLING ME I HAVE TO HAVE MONEY BEFORE YOU CAN ME MONEY? THEY SAID YES. HE JUST PACKED UP HIS STUFF AND WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM AND THEY SAID YOU NEED EXPERIENCE HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE EXPERIENCE? I WAS THE SOLE PERSON TO RAISE HIS HAND AND A LADY GOT UP AND SAID I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HELP US IN THAT EXPERIENCE WE'RE HERE AND THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CHURCHES THERE THAT SAID THIS IS A GOOD THING. WELL, ANOTHER COUPLE OF PEOPLE GOT UP AND WALKED OUT OF THE ROOM. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE. SO THEN WE WERE TOLD PUT IN YOUR APPLICATION, IT'S 120 PAGES AND WE'LL RESPOND TO YOU IN TEN DAYS AND THAT WAS IT FOUR MONTHS LATER I THINK THREE OR FOUR MONTHS LATER WE GOT A LETTER THAT SAID THESE THE THREE THINGS MISSING IN YOUR APPLICATION. SO JENNIFER DID THE ED DID THE ADDITIONAL WORK ONE OF THEM THEY ALREADY HAD SENT IT BACK IN AND THEN WE WAITED I THINK 60 DAYS BEFORE WE FINALLY GOT A LETTER AND SAID CONGRATULATIONS YOU'RE ONLY LIMITED TO TWO HOUSES AND HAVE TO BE YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR LOCAL INSPECTORS TO GET YOUR WORK DONE SO WE AND THE BLACK CHAMBER ARE THE ONLY TWO ENTITIES THAT ARE QUALIFIED SPONSORS AND BEAUFORT JASPER IT IS A HARD PROCESS YOU WOULD YOU WOULD THINK IT'D BE EASIER BUT IT'S HARDER THERE'S A WHOLE LIST RULES BUT IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW A STATE ALLOCATES MONEY AND IT SAYS THIS IS TO BE FOR A GOOD THING, THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT AND THEN THEY REGULATE IT SO HIGHLY THAT PEOPLE JUST WALK AWAY AND JUST SAY I'M NOT NOT ENOUGH BRAIN DAMAGE FOR YOU TO DO THAT. I DON'T GET ENOUGH BENEFIT OUT OF IT.

SO IF A LOT OF CHURCHES THAT THEN DO SOMETHING ON THEIR OWN THEY FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT TAKES SOME 20 YEARS AND THEY FINALLY DO IT BUT. IT'S JUST AN EXAMPLE IT'S NOT JUST SOUTH CAROLINA. YOU WANT TO WORK IN A REGULATED STATE, TRY TO WORK IN PENNSYLVANIA OR DELAWARE THAT IS I HAD A PARTNER WHO TOLD ME IT WAS EASIER TO A SKYSCRAPER IN MANHATTAN THAN IT HAD BEEN FOR HIM TO BUILD 60 UNITS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

SO SOUTH CAROLINA REALLY IS KIND OKAY BUT IT'S STILL A REGULATORY PROCESS BUT YOU

[01:20:02]

JUST ABOUT TO SOLVE IT. YEAH YEAH ON THE JENNIFER THANK YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU ALL YOU'RE DOING THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON AGENDA ITEMS OR OTHER ISSUES TO BE SPOKEN OVER HERE ON THE COMMENT FOLKS NEED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE COMMENTS THAT WERE NOT UP EARLIER HEARING NONE IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN SO MOOT STEWART SO I WANT TO THANK THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADJOURNMENT AS OPPOSED KNOW IN THE PAST WE ARE VERY HONORED

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.