Hundreds strategize on affordable housing solutions at two-day summit
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — Finding affordable housing is an issue that affects thousands of families and individuals across South Carolina each year.
Two organizations — SC Housing and Affordable Housing Coalition of SC — hosted a two-day summit to strategize on new solutions to the issue.
Over 600 people made their way through the convention center — attending session after session.
Some bankers, some builders, others with local nonprofits — they all share the same objective of making housing more affordable and accessible to the lower and middle class of SC.
“South Carolina is leading the nation in growth, but we’ve also got record eviction and foreclosure. We’re trying to bridge that gap by getting people’s energy up and giving them the information that they need to move forward and redevelop affordable housing in our state,” says SC Housing’s External Partnerships and Policy Manager Clayton Ingram.
He and other leaders like Executive Director Jennifer McAdams with the Affordable Housing Coalition of SC say they aim to increase home-ownership by building more homes that first-time buyers can afford — as well as create multi-family apartments to support our state’s growing population.
“Affordable housing is becoming a big part of every conversation and so creating this space for people to come together and brainstorm and learn from each other and create connections that they can take back to their communities lets work spread in a much broader and bigger way,” says McAdams.
ABC Columbia’s Kelly Coakley served as the summit’s awards show emcee — honoring leaders within the organizations as well as kids in the community who have been positively impacted by their services.
ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams spoke with SC Housing’s 2026 Essay Contest Winner Kamren Key-Gore about the importance of a happy home.
“Like I love my mom, my sisters, I love my guardians, I love my neighborhood aunties and uncles and that’s it,” he says.
Kamren’s poem called “Home” reads, “At my house, I feel like I have shelter. I’m comfortable and safe. Home is a place for me to sleep in. Home doesn’t have to be your house. Home can be Virginia, where I’m from. Home can be people who care about you and love you. Home is somewhere you feel protected. My mom and sisters care about me at home.”
For more information on SC Housing, click here. For more information on The Affordable Housing Coalition of SC, click here.
