| Thank you for your interest in the SC Stay Plus program, a rental and utility assistance program from SC Housing for those financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and facing eviction or housing instability.
Eligible applicants may receive up to 12 months of assistance with late rent and/or utility payments dating back to March 13, 2020.
We are thrilled to share that the program is NOW OPEN for applications. Simply click on this link or call our call center at 803.336.3420 to start the application process. You will be notified immediately if the initial screening finds you eligible or if additional paperwork is necessary to complete your application.
We are expecting high demand for these funds due to urgent needs of residents. Please attempt to complete the entire application to the best of your ability, as that will speed up the processing time. Before starting your application, please have the following items with you:
- Pictures or scans of a photo identification (driver’s license, passport, etc.);
- A copy or picture of your signed lease, or proof of rent payments (i.e., a bank account statement with confidential information removed) if a signed lease is not available;
- A 2020 Federal Tax Return (1040/1040EZ or equivalent) or pay stub from the last 60 days. (Please note that only the first two pages of a tax return are required);
- Proof of financial hardship, such as proof of unemployment from the S.C. Department of Employment of Workforce (DEW) (i.e., website screenshots or confirmation letters from DEW), OR proof of lost wages (i.e., a layoff notice, an unemployment letter, proof of business closure; AND
- Proof of risk of housing loss or experiencing homelessness, such as an eviction notice OR a past due notice for rent or utilities.
Even if you do not have any of these documents available, please do not hesitate to apply to the program. Our staff is prepared to assist with the application process, as our goal is to help as many people as possible.
Residents in 39 counties are eligible to participate in the program. The following seven counties received other funding and will provide their own rental assistance programs: Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland and Spartanburg – click here for information about these programs.
Click here for more details on the SC Stay Plus program and to view the application.
Please note: If you previously applied for the SC Stay rental assistance program in February 2021, please be aware that you cannot request support from both programs for the same period of back rent. However, you can request assistance for different months.
Thanks again for your interest. We look forward to assisting you. If you need anything else in the meantime, do not hesitate to call the SC Stay Plus call center at 803.336.3420.
Sincerely,
The SC Stay Plus team |
