How many housing & financial resources are in South Carolina?

Women's Corner tracks 17 housing & financial resources for women in South Carolina.

Are housing & financial resources in South Carolina free?

17 of the 17 listed housing & financial resources in South Carolina are explicitly free or low-cost.

Which cities in South Carolina have housing & financial resources?

Listings span cities including Columbia, Charleston, Greenville.

What are some examples of housing & financial resources in South Carolina?

Featured entries include SC State Housing Finance and Development Authority, SC Emergency Rental Assistance, Columbia Housing Authority, Charleston Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity — South Carolina.

Do these listings include phone numbers?

9 of 17 South Carolina housing & financial listings include phone numbers.

How long is the Section 8 waitlist?

It varies wildly — a few months in smaller markets, 5+ years in cities like LA, NYC, and DC. Apply to multiple Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in your region. PHAs give preference to families with children, domestic violence survivors, veterans, and homeless applicants — make sure you check every preference box you qualify for.

211 is a free, 24/7 nationwide referral line run by United Way. Call or text 211 to reach a live specialist who connects you to local rent assistance, utility help, food, childcare, transportation, and emergency funds. They know the small local funds Google won't show you. Always start here in a financial emergency.

Can I get TANF as a single mother?

Yes — TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is the main cash assistance program for low-income parents with minor children. Apply through your state's Department of Human/Social Services. Benefits, time limits, and work requirements vary by state. You can receive TANF and SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, and childcare assistance simultaneously.

What if I'm being evicted?

Call 211 and your local legal aid office the same day you're served — most states have Emergency Rental Assistance programs through the LIHEAP/ERA pipeline that can pay back rent. You have the right to a court hearing before eviction — don't move out before the hearing. DV survivors have additional protections under VAWA that block eviction based on the abuse.

Best Housing & Financial in South Carolina — 17 resources

About Housing & Financial for Women

Housing and financial assistance for women combines federal programs (HUD, TANF, SNAP, LIHEAP) with state and local efforts. Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing are administered by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), with VAWA giving survivors of domestic violence priority and emergency transfer rights. Emergency shelter and rapid rehousing run through HUD's Continuum of Care and Coordinated Entry. Mothers with custodial children typically qualify for TANF cash assistance and family-priority housing. Community action agencies and 211 lines coordinate utility help, emergency funds, and rent assistance. This directory covers PHAs, shelter systems, 211 referral lines, and community action agencies.

Housing & Financial in South Carolina

South Carolina family courts handle divorce, custody, and support in each of its 16 judicial circuits. The Child Support Services Division operates under the Department of Social Services. Charleston, Columbia, North Charleston, and Mount Pleasant are the largest cities. South Carolina Legal Services and the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) serve women.

17 Resources

1. SC State Housing Finance and Development Authority — Free

SC State Housing at 300-C Outlet Pointe Boulevard in Columbia administers Housing Choice Vouchers, first-time homebuyer mortgages with down-payment assistance, and the SC Stay rental-relief program. Phone 803-896-9001 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Many programs require waitlist application.

803-896-9001 · 300-C Outlet Pointe Blvd, Columbia, SC 29210 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

2. SC Emergency Rental Assistance — Free

SC Stay Plus at schousing.com/home/SC-Stay was the state's pandemic-era rental relief program; check the site for currently available emergency-housing aid. Dial 211 to be routed to your county's local community-action agency for rent-arrears help. Free to apply.

211 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Columbia Housing Authority — Free

Columbia Housing at 1917 Harden Street administers public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for the city of Columbia. Mothers apply for the waiting list when it opens — check the website for the current status. Phone 803-254-3886 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Free to apply.

803-254-3886 · 1917 Harden St, Columbia, SC 29204 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm

4. Charleston Housing Authority — Free

Charleston Housing Authority at 550 Meeting Street operates public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers for the City of Charleston. Mothers apply for waitlists when open; preferences sometimes prioritize women fleeing DV or with disabilities. Phone 843-720-3990 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm.

843-720-3990 · 550 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm

5. Habitat for Humanity — South Carolina — Free

Habitat for Humanity affiliates across SC (Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach) build homes that qualifying low-income families purchase with a zero-interest mortgage. Single mothers regularly partner. Sweat-equity hours and homebuyer classes required. Phone 803-252-3570 for the Columbia affiliate.

803-252-3570 · Columbia, SC · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm

6. Greenville Housing Authority — Free

Greenville Housing Authority at 122 Edinburgh Court runs public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program for the City of Greenville. Phone 864-467-4250 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Application opens periodically; check the website for the next waitlist opening.

864-467-4250 · 122 Edinburgh Ct, Greenville, SC 29607 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm

7. SC Community Action Partnership — Free

SC CAP at sccap.org coordinates the state's network of community action agencies — your county CAP is the access point for LIHEAP, emergency rent help, weatherization, and Head Start. Phone 803-734-0662 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm to find your county. Free intake.

803-734-0662 · Columbia, SC · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

8. LIHEAP — SC Low Income Home Energy Assistance — Free

LIHEAP in South Carolina is administered through county community-action agencies, providing credits on heating and cooling bills plus weatherization. Phone 800-922-1594 (DSS line) Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm or contact your local CAP. Income-eligible applicants prioritized.

800-922-1594 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website

9. Salvation Army — South Carolina — Free

Salvation Army corps in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Spartanburg, and many smaller SC cities provide emergency rent, utility, and shelter assistance, plus seasonal food and toy programs. Each corps sets its own intake schedule — call ahead. Phone 803-765-0260 for the Columbia headquarters.

803-765-0260 · Multiple SC locations · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

10. HUD.gov — Find Local Office — Free

HUD.gov locates the South Carolina HUD field office in Columbia plus information on Section 8, public housing, and HUD-approved counseling. Useful when navigating subsidized-housing rules or filing a fair-housing complaint. Free public site.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. HUD Homeless Resources — Free

HUD's Continuum of Care page at hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/coc links to SC's CoCs (Midlands, Lowcountry, Upstate). CoCs run the coordinated entry system that connects women in crisis to shelter and permanent housing. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

12. LIHEAP — Energy Assistance — Free

LIHEAP at acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap is the federal heating and cooling assistance program; in SC it's administered through community-action agencies. The federal page explains the program structure and provides each state's contact. Free public info.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

13. Salvation Army — Find Help — Free

SalvationArmyUSA.org's national locator connects women to SC Salvation Army corps in cities including Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Florence. Each corps runs rent and utility emergency funds and food pantries. Walk in or call the nearest corps. Most aid free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

14. Catholic Charities USA — Free

Catholic Charities USA at catholiccharitiesusa.org links to the Diocese of Charleston's Catholic Charities, which runs rent assistance, immigration legal help, food pantries, and family support across all 46 SC counties. Open to women of any faith. Free intake.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

15. United Way Worldwide — Free

UnitedWay.org's affiliate locator lists Trident United Way (Charleston), United Way of the Midlands (Columbia), United Way of Greenville County, and other SC United Ways funding women-serving agencies. Dial 211 anytime to be connected to United Way-funded programs.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

16. Habitat for Humanity — Free

Habitat.org's affiliate locator finds Habitat affiliates across SC. Each runs its own application cycle for the zero-interest homeownership program. Single moms regularly qualify. Sweat-equity required. Free to apply.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

17. Family Promise — Free

Family Promise at familypromise.org coordinates congregation-based hospitality networks that shelter homeless families. SC affiliates operate in Columbia, Beaufort, and Greenville. Free.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many housing & financial resources are in South Carolina?: Women's Corner tracks 17 housing & financial resources for women in South Carolina.
Are housing & financial resources in South Carolina free?: 17 of the 17 listed housing & financial resources in South Carolina are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in South Carolina have housing & financial resources?: Listings span cities including Columbia, Charleston, Greenville.
What are some examples of housing & financial resources in South Carolina?: Featured entries include SC State Housing Finance and Development Authority, SC Emergency Rental Assistance, Columbia Housing Authority, Charleston Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity — South Carolina.
Do these listings include phone numbers?: 9 of 17 South Carolina housing & financial listings include phone numbers.
How long is the Section 8 waitlist?: It varies wildly — a few months in smaller markets, 5+ years in cities like LA, NYC, and DC. Apply to multiple Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) in your region. PHAs give preference to families with children, domestic violence survivors, veterans, and homeless applicants — make sure you check every preference box you qualify for.
What does 211 do?: 211 is a free, 24/7 nationwide referral line run by United Way. Call or text 211 to reach a live specialist who connects you to local rent assistance, utility help, food, childcare, transportation, and emergency funds. They know the small local funds Google won't show you. Always start here in a financial emergency.
Can I get TANF as a single mother?: Yes — TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is the main cash assistance program for low-income parents with minor children. Apply through your state's Department of Human/Social Services. Benefits, time limits, and work requirements vary by state. You can receive TANF and SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, and childcare assistance simultaneously.
What if I'm being evicted?: Call 211 and your local legal aid office the same day you're served — most states have Emergency Rental Assistance programs through the LIHEAP/ERA pipeline that can pay back rent. You have the right to a court hearing before eviction — don't move out before the hearing. DV survivors have additional protections under VAWA that block eviction based on the abuse.