With the ongoing need for affordable housing in our state, one lawmaker thinks he has a solution.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — There is an ongoing need for affordable housing in our state and one lawmaker thinks he has a solution. It involves churches building some housing on property they own.
“We have tremendous growth in our state, which is good for our economy, but it’s also created an incredible housing shortage,” said said State Representative Wendell Jones of Greenville. “We want to combine policy with passion.”
Jones recently proposed legislation to grant tax-exempt status to properties used as affordable housing if owned by religious institutions.
“For churches to think creatively and for our leaders to think creatively … it’s interesting to hear about this legislation that some churches, I think, will take advantage of,” said Brad Smith, senior pastor at Eastminster Presbyterian Church.
The proposed bill’s financial impact on the state, according to Jones, is …