South Carolina Lawmakers Call for Immediate Investigation into Charleston County Housing Authority
State representatives from South Carolina have expressed serious concerns over the decision of the Charleston County Housing Authority to sell 30 homes. The lawmakers have called for an immediate investigation into the housing authority’s management, transparency, and the potential consequences of this sale on the community.
“It seems like the more answers we get the more questions and red flags we come up with,” Rep. Mark Smith, R-Berkeley County, said.
The five state representatives, including Mark Smith, Tom Hartnett, Joe Bustos, Joe Jefferson, and Gary Brewer from Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties, have highlighted that there are no buyer restrictions on the sale of these properties. These homes are spread across the county, from Hollywood to Mount Pleasant, and have reportedly been vacant for multiple years.
Lawmakers Demand Transparency
The representatives, seeking answers to a number of impending questions, have voiced the community’s right to know why public assets are being sold off, and how this decision is going to impact their access to affordable housing. They have strongly criticized the Charleston County Housing Authority for failing to fulfill its primary mission, which is to create and provide affordable housing solutions.
The decision to sell the properties was made after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development labeled the housing authority as “troubled”. The sale is estimated to be worth over $7 million, which raises doubts on the authority’s commitment to its mission of providing affordable housing.
The inclusion of the former CEO of the housing authority, Karen Gorham, as the listing agent for the sale, invited added scrutiny. Questions were raised about her compensation and her agreement with the housing authority, indicating a lack of transparency in the proceedings.
“Let’s put a pause on that [selling] and make sure we do a good due diligence in review because there is no oversight from any other governmental agencies for the authority other than its own commission,” Smith said.
Housing Authority’s Response
Responding to the concerns raised, the Charleston County Housing Authority revealed that the properties were sold due to their extremely poor conditions. They also stressed on their commitment to provide affordable housing in the Charleston community. Proceeds from the sale of the thirty housing assets will be invested in new affordable measures as a part of this goal. They further announced the launch of a new interactive website to address community questions and provide updates.
Rep. Smith, expressing optimism after a phone call with Angela Childers and Travis Bedson from Charleston County Housing & Redevelopment Authority, said that they are keen to meet and address all the questions raised by the House of Representatives. He also assured that an immediate meeting will be prioritized, to get clarity on all items of concern and respond accordingly.
