Although the state-run, federally funded program from the pandemic (SC Stay Plus) has ended, emergency rental assistance remains available in South Carolina through a network of local community action agencies, non-profit organizations, and specific grants from housing authorities. Key options for emergency rental assistance across the state include:
Community Action Agencies (Statewide Coverage)
Every county in South Carolina is served by a regional Community Action Agency. These agencies administer the General Emergency Assistance Program (GEAP), which provides emergency funding for rent, utility bills, and eviction prevention to households that meet income requirements and are experiencing a sudden crisis.
Palmetto Community Action Partnership: Serves Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. You can schedule emergency appointments online via the Palmetto CAP Temporary Assistance portal.
GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission: Serves Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Newberry, Saluda, Cherokee, and Spartanburg counties. Learn more about emergency criteria by reviewing the GLEAMNS GEAP program guide.
Carolina Community Actions: Serves Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster, Union, and York counties. They offer crisis stabilization through CCA’s CSBG program.
Other regions: You can find a complete directory of all providers by county using the “County Locator” tool provided by the South Carolina Office of Economic Opportunity.
Local Non-Profit and Faith-Based Organizations
The Salvation Army (North and South Carolina Division)
The North and South Carolina Division of The Salvation Army is responsible for the regional coordination of all its spiritual and social service programs across both states. While administrative oversight is centralized at its divisional headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, emergency services for those in need—such as assistance with rent and utility payments—are provided at the local level through area commands and regional centers.
Division Profile
Headquarters Location: 501 Archdale Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210
Administrative Phone: +1 704-522-4970
Public Service Availability: The divisional headquarters handles internal administrative operations and is not open to the public for the direct distribution of financial aid or for walk-in, in-person assistance.
Official Website: The Salvation Army – Carolinas Division
Major Regional Programs and Services
Beyond crisis stabilization, the regional division funds and organizes various long-term support initiatives, which are carried out by the organization’s local community centers:
Homelessness Prevention and Crisis Stabilization: Funds allocated at the local level to cover overdue rent, prevent the immediate disconnection of essential utilities (such as water or electricity), and defray critical expenses, such as essential medications or transportation for medical emergencies.
Adult Rehabilitation and Workforce Integration: Structured, multi-stage rehabilitation programs focused on recovery from addiction, obtaining professional vocational certifications, and direct entry into the labor market.
Disaster relief operations: mobile response systems, emergency food distribution points, and post-crisis logistics operations, deployed in North Carolina and South Carolina during severe weather events.
Community Enrichment and Youth Services: Subsidized after-school programs, conducted in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, alongside local youth counseling services and special programs during the holiday season.
Eastern Carolina Housing Organization (ECHO)
The Eastern Carolina Housing Organization (ECHO) is a non-profit organization (under section 501(c)(3) of the tax code) dedicated to resolving housing crises, preventing evictions, and eradicating homelessness. As the lead entity for the Total Care for the Homeless Coalition (TCHC), ECHO manages the Coordinated Entry System (CES) across an area encompassing 13 counties in northeastern and eastern South Carolina.
Comprehensive Coverage Area
ECHO provides a continuum of services across 13 designated counties in South Carolina:
- Chesterfield
- Clarendon
- Darlington
- Dillon
- Florence
- Georgetown
- Horry
- Lee
- Marion
- Marlboro
- Sumter
- Williamsburg
Core Housing Programs and Initiatives
Coordinated Entry Access Point: ECHO standardizes the crisis intake process for anyone who is homeless or at imminent risk of losing their housing. Eligible applicants complete a unified vulnerability assessment, which helps identify the community resources best suited to their situation.
Eviction Prevention Assistance: Provides temporary financial aid and stabilization funds for low-income tenants facing an imminent court-ordered eviction or who have documented rent arrears.
Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): A specialized program offering case management, housing search assistance, and temporary financial support, designed exclusively for low-income veteran households facing imminent risk.
NardMoor (John’s Place): A permanent housing project dedicated to supporting veterans who are in the process of recovery or transition following a period of prolonged displacement.
Admissions, Locations, and Contact Information
ECHO operates several physical locations to support its regional outreach efforts; however, the initial application assessment process must begin either by phone or via an online form.
Central Admissions Office (Myrtle Beach): Located at 4033 Belle Terre Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29579.
Coordinated Entry Center (Myrtle Beach Center): Located at 407 Broadway Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. Open Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Regional Centers: There are regional offices that support administration in inland counties; these include an office in Florence (1416 West Evans Street) and another in Sumter (2625-A Hardee Court).
Access Channels: You may submit your documentation directly via the “ECHO Get Help” application. If you do not have internet access, please call the ECHO Access Line at 843-213-1798 to complete a verbal assessment over the phone. For services specifically for veterans, please contact the Veteran Outreach department at 843-492-2594.
The Cooperative Ministry
“The Cooperative Ministry” is a prominent, debt-free non-profit organization serving the Midlands region of South Carolina (primarily Richland County). Rather than functioning solely as an emergency fund for the rapid distribution of resources, the organization focuses on long-term stabilization during crises and the promotion of economic self-sufficiency.
If you need to request assistance, please note that financial aid for rent and utility payments is directly linked to their personal counseling programs. The organization does not provide emergency checks immediately or unconditionally to walk-ins without an appointment.
Financial Empowerment Model (Housing and Utility Assistance)
Counseling Requirement: Direct financial assistance for rent, mortgage payments, or overdue utility bills is available exclusively to individuals enrolled in their Financial Empowerment counseling program.
The Process: Participants work one-on-one with a dedicated financial counselor to build financial literacy, improve budgeting skills, and define personal goals. Financial assistance is offered as a tool within this framework to help stabilize households. Therefore, funds are not immediately available at the time of the initial contact.
Distribution of payments: Once assistance is approved through the program, payments are made directly to the property owner, the mortgage lender, or the utility service provider.
Location, hours, and access
Physical address: 3821 West Beltline Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29204 (located between Two Notch Road and Farrow Road). Contact phone number: +1 803-799-3853
Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Official website: The Cooperative Ministry Platform.
Public Housing Authorities and SC Housing
Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) under the HOME-ARP program
Administered by SC Housing, this program utilizes over $12 million from American Rescue Plan funds, along with $1.3 million allocated for support services, to help stabilize households at high risk.
Implementation model: SC Housing allocates these funds to local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) throughout South Carolina. These authorities then distribute vouchers directly to eligible local residents to cover rent payments, security deposits, and utility deposits.
Target Populations: To receive assistance through the HOME-ARP TBRA program, households must belong to an “eligible population”:
- Individuals or families who are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of becoming homeless.
- Individuals who are fleeing or attempting to flee situations involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking.
- Vulnerable households facing severe housing instability or a high risk of eviction.
Program Timeline: Local housing authorities must submit their program applications during the current non-competitive funding cycle, no later than October 30, 2026. All allocated funds must be fully expended by September 1, 2030.
Supplementary Support Services: Funds may cover additional stabilization resources—such as housing counseling, case management, moving cost assistance, and legal services—to help tenants maintain their housing over the long term.
SCHousingSearch.com Platform
SCHousingSearch is the official, state-supported web portal designed to facilitate the search for affordable and low-cost housing.
Customized Filters: The portal enables real-time searches tailored specifically to the needs of low- to moderate-income tenants. Users can refine results based on location, rent cost, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and various accessibility options.
Assistance Voucher Compatibility: The platform includes specialized filters to identify landlords and property management companies that explicitly accept vouchers from programs such as Section 8 or HOME-ARP TBRA.
Integrated affordability calculator: Prospective tenants can use an interactive calculator directly on the site to enter their household income and determine what monthly rent amount they can safely afford.
Central directory: In addition to property listings, the site offers a specialized map-based index that includes community action agencies, public housing authorities (PHAs), and emergency service networks.
