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Understanding the Spartanburg Housing Authority and Its Role

The Spartanburg Housing Authority (SHA) is a public agency that manages affordable housing programs in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The organization operates under federal guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SHA administers several housing programs designed to help residents with different housing needs and income levels. The agency is governed by a Board of Commissioners and employs staff members who work with applicants and current residents.

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SHA manages multiple types of housing programs, each with different rules and purposes. Public Housing is one primary program where SHA owns and operates apartment complexes throughout the county. The Housing Choice Voucher Program, sometimes called Section 8, provides rental assistance to low-income families by paying a portion of their rent directly to landlords. Family Self-Sufficiency Programs help residents work toward economic independence through job training and support services. Emergency Housing Assistance may be available during times of crisis or natural disaster.

The SHA office is located in Spartanburg and serves residents across the county. The agency maintains waiting lists for its programs because demand often exceeds available resources. Understanding how SHA operates helps you learn about the different types of housing support that may be available in your area. The free informational guide about SHA explains the basic structure of these programs and what each one is designed to do.

Practical Takeaway: Before exploring specific SHA programs, it helps to understand that SHA manages different types of housing assistance with separate rules and waiting lists. The guide explains these distinctions so you can learn which program type may relate to your housing situation.

Public Housing Programs and How They Work

Public Housing is the longest-running federal housing program in the United States. SHA owns and maintains apartment buildings where residents pay rent based on their income. In 2023, approximately 2.1 million Americans lived in public housing units nationwide. In Spartanburg County, SHA operates several public housing communities that provide affordable housing options for low-income families, elderly residents, and people with disabilities.

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In public housing, rent is calculated as 30% of your household's adjusted gross income, or the HUD-established minimum rent, whichever is higher. This means if your household income is $24,000 per year, your rent would be calculated as $600 monthly (30% of $24,000 divided by 12). However, HUD establishes a minimum rent amount, which may be higher than 30% of income in some cases. Residents pay utilities directly or through included amounts, depending on the specific property and lease terms.

Public housing units in Spartanburg include both family apartments and senior housing communities. Family units typically range from one to four bedrooms depending on family size needs. Senior communities offer one and two-bedroom units specifically designed for residents age 62 and older. People with disabilities may also have access to specially adapted units with accessibility features like wheelchair ramps, grab bars, and modified kitchens and bathrooms.

The guide explains what types of public housing units SHA operates, where these communities are located throughout Spartanburg County, and how rent calculations work in public housing. It also describes the lease requirements, maintenance policies, and community rules that apply to public housing residents. Understanding these details helps you learn whether public housing may meet your housing needs.

Practical Takeaway: Public housing rent is based on your income rather than market rates, which can make it significantly more affordable than private rentals. The guide provides information about the SHA public housing communities available in your area and how rent would be calculated for your household.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program Explained

The Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly called Section 8, is the largest federal housing assistance program. According to HUD, approximately 2.2 million households received rental assistance through this program in 2023. The program works differently from public housing because residents do not live in SHA-owned buildings. Instead, vouchers help residents rent apartments from private landlords, with SHA paying a portion of the rent directly to the landlord.

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Under the voucher program, SHA issues a voucher that establishes how much housing assistance is available for your household. The voucher amount depends on the fair market rent for your area, which HUD updates annually. For example, the 2024 fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Spartanburg County is $876 monthly. Your household would pay 30% of its adjusted income toward rent, and the voucher would pay the difference between what you contribute and the voucher amount, up to the fair market rent limit.

Voucher holders search for their own housing among participating private landlords who accept vouchers. This gives residents more choices in where they live compared to public housing. Landlords must meet HUD housing quality standards, and a housing inspector must approve the unit before the voucher can be used. Once approved, the lease agreement is between you and the landlord, but SHA remains involved to monitor rent payments and ensure the unit continues meeting standards throughout the lease term.

The guide describes how the voucher program works step by step, including how voucher amounts are calculated, how to search for participating landlords, and what happens during the housing quality inspection process. It explains the ongoing responsibilities of voucher holders, such as reporting changes in household income and paying their share of rent on time. The guide also covers portability, which is the ability to move to a different area and transfer your voucher.

Practical Takeaway: The voucher program lets you rent from private landlords while receiving assistance toward your rent payment. The guide explains how voucher amounts are determined and what to expect when using a voucher to rent housing in Spartanburg County.

Family Self-Sufficiency and Economic Independence Programs

SHA operates Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) programs designed to help residents move toward financial independence. These programs combine housing assistance with supportive services such as job training, education counseling, childcare referrals, and financial planning assistance. The goal is to help residents increase employment, improve earning potential, and reduce long-term dependence on housing assistance. FSS programs have been in operation since 1990 and serve over 30,000 households nationwide.

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The FSS program in Spartanburg pairs housing residents with a counselor who helps develop an individual plan toward self-sufficiency. The plan may include job search strategies, GED or vocational training, budgeting assistance, or connecting with local employers. As residents increase their income through better employment, their portion of rent increases (because rent is calculated at 30% of income), but they can accumulate savings in an escrow account. The escrow savings belong to the resident and can be used for education, starting a business, purchasing a home, or other self-sufficiency goals.

Participation in FSS is voluntary and typically involves a commitment period of five years. Residents work with their counselor on personal goals that may include completing education, obtaining professional certifications, starting a business, or advancing to better-paying positions. The program recognizes that each household has different strengths and barriers, so plans are customized. Services may include resume writing, interview preparation, computer skills training, childcare assistance coordination, and connection to local community colleges or training providers.

The guide provides information about how FSS programs work in Spartanburg, what types of supportive services are available, and how the escrow savings accumulation operates. It describes the five-year program timeline and explains how participating in FSS affects your housing assistance and rent payments. The guide also includes information about success stories that illustrate how residents have used the program to achieve employment and financial goals.

Practical Takeaway: FSS programs combine housing assistance with counseling and job training to help residents build toward economic independence. The guide explains what support services are available through SHA and how the escrow savings feature works for participants.

Waiting Lists, Selection Processes, and Program Requirements

SHA manages waiting lists for its housing programs because the number of interested residents typically exceeds the number of available units or vouchers. Waiting lists are maintained separately for each program—public housing, vouchers, and FSS—because each program has different requirements and purposes. As of recent reports, SHA's public housing waiting list includes hundreds of families, and the voucher program waiting list continues to grow. New applicants are typically placed on the waiting list based on the date SHA receives their information.

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Selection from the waiting list follows federal HUD rules that require priorities for certain populations. These priorities typically include families with children, elderly persons age 62 and older, and people with disabilities. Veterans and homeless individuals may also receive priority consideration. However, the specific priority order established by SHA guides selection. Being on a waiting