SC Housing programs win two national awards
COLUMBIA, S.C. — SC Housing has been recognized with two 2026 Awards for Program Excellence from the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), honoring innovative programs that address South Carolina's housing needs.
SC Housing received awards in two categories:
- Homeownership: Empowering Buyers for the Made It Home! Program
- Special Needs Housing: Combating Homelessness for Bridging Housing and Health: A Scalable Supportive Housing Model Through LIHTC
“These awards recognize the innovative work happening at SC Housing to address some of South Carolina's most pressing housing challenges,” said Robert Macdonald, SC Housing executive director. “Our team continues to find new ways to expand access to affordable housing, strengthen communities and help more South Carolinians achieve housing stability.”
The Made It Home! Program is an innovative workforce housing initiative designed to address one of South Carolina’s most persistent challenges: the shortage of attainable, entry‑level single‑family homes for middle‑income households.
Launched through a $5 million funding proviso enacted by the South Carolina General Assembly, the program directly responds to the widening gap between what the market produces and what working families can afford. The initial investment supported the construction of 130 homes statewide, all of which were fully subscribed by participating builders - an unmistakable signal of unmet demand.
The program pairs a $12,500 builder subsidy with $25,000 in down payment assistance for homebuyers, addressing both sides of the affordability equation: supply and access. The result is a highly successful, market‑aligned model that other states can replicate.
The Bridging Housing and Health - A Scalable Supportive Housing Model Through LIHTC initiative originated in the 2021 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), through which SC Housing incentivized developers by awarding competitive points to properties committing at least 10 percent of units to supportive housing.
This policy innovation aligned the state’s primary affordable housing production tool with an urgent human services need, without requiring new funding streams.
The initiative demonstrates how affordable housing can connect residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness with supportive services that promote greater housing stability and improved outcomes.
Media Contact: Matthew McColl
Marketing and Public Information Director
matthew.mccoll@schousing.com
803-896-9520
SC Housing is a self-sustaining housing finance agency committed to ensuring that South Carolinians have the opportunity to live in safe, decent and affordable housing. Agency operations are supported by a funding base that includes fees and other revenue earned through the administration of agency programs. For more information, visit SCHousing.sc.gov.
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