Affordable Housing
Since 2018 MORE Justice members have passionately shared their experiences of a lack of affordable housing, facing unscrupulous landlords, and being forced to make impossible choices between paying rent and covering essential needs like medicine and groceries. Thousands of families in our community are trapped in a cycle of financial strain, leading to astronomical eviction rates, substandard living conditions, and negative health and education outcomes.
The stark reality is that too many households are forced to stretch their budgets to the limit, with more than 16,000 families in Columbia alone paying over 30% of their income on rent and utilities. In Richland County, the struggle is even more pronounced, as nearly half of renters (44.8%) allocate more than a third of their hard-earned income towards housing expenses. To put it into perspective, a minimum wage earner in Lexington or Richland County would have to clock in a staggering 89 hours a week just to afford an average one-bedroom apartment at the going rate (NLIHC).
What is God's Vision For Housing?
For years, Richland County’s housing crisis has been getting worse. As they ignored this problem, it got bigger.
The 8th century BCE prophet Micah declared:
Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid. Micah 4:4.
This often-repeated scriptural text promises everyone a place to rest, a right to ownership, safety, and abundance (II Kings 18:31; Is. 36:16; Zech.3:10). These and other Scripture passages assert that everyone has a right to a place to call home.
MORE Justice is dedicated to this vision.
Housing Campaign Progress
Over 450 passionate members united at MORE Justice's 2018 Community Problems Assembly, driven by a unanimous commitment to confront the housing crisis head-on. Our journey since then has been dynamic—a whirlwind of 68 meetings with state and local officials, yielding insights that illuminate a path forward. We've uncovered proven best practices, and among them, a game-changer: the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF), already making waves in 800 communities across the nation.
The AHTF stands as a beacon of hope, fueled by public funding, destined to rejuvenate affordable housing and reshape our community's landscape. It offers stability, security, and dignity to our fellow residents. We've turned this commitment into action, rallying support from our local leaders. At the 2019 Nehemiah Action Assembly, a resounding force of over 1,200 MORE Justice constituents secured backing from City Councilman Howard Duvall, County Councilman Paul Livingston, and Councilwoman Allison Terracio. They championed a robust 9-step Housing Action Plan, paving the way for a fully funded AHTF within our community. The dedicated Housing Coalition has been diligently working, convening multiple times to bring this visionary plan to life.
Fast forward to the impactful Nehemiah Action in April 2021, where our relentless advocacy yielded a commitment from Richland County Council Former Chairman Paul Livingston. He pledged to present the critical request to the council, a decisive move toward establishing the urgently needed Affordable Housing Trust Fund. But the support doesn't end there! Council members Paul Livingston, Allison Terracio, Overture Walker, and Gretchen Barron resoundingly said "YES" to this pivotal request.
Now, on the verge of transformative change, our recent Nehemiah Action in 2023 propels us forward. Councilmembers Terracio and Livingston have committed to a vital work session—an educational endeavor for themselves and their peers, highlighting the undeniable benefits and the urgent necessity of an AHTF.
We're relentless in our pursuit. The MORE Justice Housing Committee diligently follows up with these dedicated officials and the entire county council, ensuring that these commitments transform into tangible, life-changing results.