Columbia, SC—-The United States Department of Housing & Urban Development Multi-Family Housing Division has asked for Columbia Housing’s help in administering the Housing Assistance for families living at Hillandale Apartments in Columbia. The action comes after the apartment complex came under scrutiny this past summer because of several safety violations. HUD has since terminated the Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance contract with the owners of Hillandale Apartments and Alpha Barnes Real Estate Services, the Texas-based company that managed the property. That means the complex no longer receives federal subsidies to help low-income tenants pay for private housing.
In September of 2020, Columbia Housing was contacted by HUD’s offices of Multi-Family and Public Housing to ask for the agency’s help in administering 200 enhanced tenant protection vouchers. HUD has also hired a private contractor that will provide relocation and moving assistance to the tenants.
Columbia Housing has received the funding from HUD for the enhanced tenant protection vouchers for the families at Hillandale Apartments and will begin notifying each family of the continued assistance they will receive when they secure another place to call home.
“We are happy to step in to help”, says Columbia Housing CEO Ivory Mathews. “The availability of affordable housing is such a critical issue in the Midlands, the state, and the nation. Right now, there are about 75 remaining families at Hillandale.”
To help assist the families, Columbia Housing needs more private landlords to work with them. Right now, the agency works with more than 2,500 private landlords to house more than 4,000 families in its Housing Choice Voucher program. But more are needed. Landlords interested in housing Columbia Housing voucher recipients should email CHCares@ColumbiaHousingSC.org.
