City of Spartanburg asks community to weigh in on affordable housing needs

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Affordable housing is a problem facing cities across the country. Spartanburg leaders are working on a plan to address the need but they first need public input to make it the plan successful.

Veteran Chris Collins said he’s struggling to make ends meet, especially when it comes to affording a place to live in his hometown of Spartanburg.

“It is absolutely absurd, I mean with the interest rates and things of that nature, inflation it is very hard even for people that are making $65,000 to $70,000 a year who have struggles just having to make ends meet,” Collins added. “If you’re not making an abundance of money of over a hundred plus you can’t be able to find a house to be able to live comfortably in this society right now.”

Collins said after 20 years in the military, he thought he’d be retired by now.

“I am a retired veteran and I have to get another job just to be able to pay our monthly bills for us to survive monthly, with my wife working, with myself having to get additional work I have to do above and beyond just to be able to survive,” he said. “I am a paycheck to paycheck guy even though I’m retired.”

The City of Spartanburg is asking residents like Collins to share their experiences, so city leaders can develop an affordable housing plan.

“We know if we can demonstrate a greater need that gives us a greater opportunity to perhaps get some more funding, so it is very important that we get this plan into the hands of folks in Washington that make those decisions,” Christopher George, City of Spartanburg communication manger said.

City leaders said the last time the plan was created, the need wasn’t as great.

“Just in the past five years the explosive growth we have seen in Spartanburg, we know that puts more pressure on that lower end on the housing scale and we need to make sure that as we are developing we are developing for folks who need it on that end of the income scale as well,” said George.

The city said this time around it hopes to secure more funding to help folks afford rent and mortgage payments.

“All these new subdivisions, townhomes, condos, single family homes are coming about its continuously growing,” Collins said. “But they need to be realistic about putting prices out so people can be able to enjoy those homes and enjoy their lives. So, $200,00 to maybe $250,000 I know back in the day that’s what things were, why can’t we be that way again.”

The City of Spartanburg is holding two public meetings for residents to weigh in.

• April 4th, 2024 at 6 PM in the Spartanburg Police Department Community Room (206 N Forest St.)
• April 16th, 2024 at 6 PM in the Spartanburg County Council Chambers (366 N Church St.)

If you’re not able to attend, there is an online survey you can fill out here now until April 5th.

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