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What is 'attainable housing', and why is it coming to Columbia?

Developers just announced a new project in Columbia that's being labeled as 'attainable housing,' a classification that's different from affordable housing.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Latoya Heath-Killingsworth rents a home in Columbia while she is working on selling and purchasing a house. She is currently paying over $2,000 per month on rent. She says this is close to $1,000 more than her mortgage would be.

"It's a large portion to pay monthly for a family that may only make about $5,000 a month.  you're going to do what you need to sacrifice and pay your rent...your utilities, just a number of things that you require everyday for everyday life."

RELATED: 'Attainable' housing coming to BullStreet development in Columbia

According to Renaye Long, who works at SC Housing, affordable housing means rental rates should be no more than 30% of a person's income. But she says some pay rent that is over 50% of their income. Providing cheap housing to help these families isn't easy.

Affordable housing is one thing, but Long says that isn't always enough. She spoke to News19 about the importance of 'attainable housing'. This is housing that is considered affordable, but also has accessible factors such as transportation and employment close by. These can be huge hurdles for some low income families.

"People can't afford to live nearby to where they work and they're having to travel great distances, and you see that a lot...Those can cause additional challenges and financial burdens."

RELATED: Transitions Homeless Center to expand services to elderly, medically fragile people

She explains how difficult it can be, "There's affordable housing 20 miles or 30 miles up the road with openings but I don't have transportation, I don't have my own car, there's no public transportation."

Taking solutions one step further, Kevin Connelly and his team at Connelly Development LLC. are trying to create new opportunities for these individuals. He's developing a new apartment complex in the BullStreet District. The complex will have 90 units spanning from 1 to 3 bedrooms and include some 2 bedroom townhouses.

"We're catering to folks all the way from 20% of area median income all the way up to 70% of area median income. so we've got rents as low as $290 a month all the way up to $900 a month...It's be great for folks that work here, they can walk to work. Cuts down on traffic...they can work and live in the same community, there's so much here to offer."

He expects the project to be complete in fall of 2023.

RELATED: 'It's a nice start': 14 affordable housing developments coming to Columbia

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