SUMTER, S.C. — The Santee Lynches Regional Council of Governments (COG) says it has $500,000 available in rental assistance for people living in Sumter, Lee, Clarendon or Kershaw counties.
“It came to our rescue,” Sumter resident Maria Myers said about the program.
As a senior resident on a fixed income, Myers said that when her husband got sick in September, they needed a little extra help, especially with inflation.
“When you go to the grocery store, it’s, like, really crazy,” Myers said. “I mean, crazy. I thought they made a mistake when I went to the store and they said bacon, it was $29. I was like, ‘That has to be a mistake.’ And she said, ‘That's a family pack.’ I said, ‘$29 for some bacon?”
Myers found she was eligible for the tenant-based rental assistance program through Santee Lynches after hearing about it from a friend. So, she applied and met with Home Coordinator Shekia Harvin.
“This program was like, wow, you know, I'm actually seeing it happen for different people,” Harvin said. “It's amazing because I work with each client one on one. I’m doing it in this department by myself so I am able to connect with them personally and understand their story and how they need the help and try my best to help them with the rent relief. It's only but so much I can do, but I go out of my way to make sure that I'm trying to help in some form or fashion with the rental assistance.”
Harvin works directly with the applicants, connecting them with part of the $500,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. To apply for rental assistance, which is based on income, residents only have to meet one of the following criteria: they need to be over 18, married, a military veteran, or have at least one dependent.
Residents can fill out the application online and submit proof of income. Then, Harvin says she schedules a meeting.
Each application is reviewed and considered to receive up to $500 monthly.
“It's a very impactful program because you get to meet a lot of people and you don't know their stories and you just don't know how much you're helping them until they apply and then I reach out to them,” Harvin said. “One of my passions is the community. You know, I always loved helping people. So the fact that I was able to be a part of the COG and be an employee here, it made my purpose come to pass. You know, I'm able to work for it and able to see it happen in person and get my hands in and actually see myself helping the community as much as possible.”
Davenie Boone said that during her high-risk pregnancy, she wasn’t able to continue working as a cardio tech at Prisma Health’s Tuomey Hospital. When her income stopped, she found help through this program.
“They helped me out so much and I'm so forever grateful,” Boone said. “Sumter is a little small town so you would never think that it had those type of resources in this town.”
So far, Harvin said there are over 50 clients, primarily in the Sumter area. The $500,000 is allocated for the entire year, and assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis until the money runs out.
To apply, visit SanteeLynchesCOG.org. Documents can be uploaded on the application, scanned in, faxed to 803-773-9903, or emailed to sharvin@slcog.org.
“It's real easy. I would recommend any and everybody to do it,” Boone said about the process.
Harvin echoed that idea.
“Anybody who's 18 years over, please apply," Harvin said. “You never know what you can get or any type of assistance but you won't know until you apply.”
Harvin says the application process takes 35 to 40 days. Myers said the process is easy.
“In a few weeks, you're all done, and you're qualified,” Myers said. “So, I'm encouraging everyone that really needs this little push, this little help, you know, and it’s really awesome; an awesome program. I'm so glad that they decided to set aside money for those who need help.”