SC Stay Plus

General Website: https://southcarolina.onlinepha.com/en-US/

Application Website: https://southcarolina.onlinepha.com/en-US/

Intake phone number: 1.800.467.0412

Frequently Asked Questions: https://southcarolina.onlinepha.com/en-US/Pages/View/124/faqs

Residents in 39 counties are eligible to participate in the program. The following seven counties received other funding and will provide their own rental assistance programs: Anderson, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Horry, Richland and Spartanburg.

Please note: If a tenant previously applied for the SC Stay rental assistance program in February 2021, please be aware that they cannot request support from both programs for the same period of back rent. However, they can request assistance for different months.

SC Stay Plus will pay up to twelve (12) months of back rent (also known as arrearages), to the extent that funds are available. Rent arrears through March 13, 2020 will be paid first, with up to three (3) months of future rental assistance available (through December of 2021) if the renter is at risk of experiencing homelessness.

SC Stay Plus additionally covers:

• Rental or utility security deposits, moving expenses, rental fees, and/or application or screening fees if a household has been temporarily or permanently displaced due to COVID-19

• Reasonable accrued late fees, if not already incurred as part of rental or utility arrears and if incurred due to COVID-19

Landlords and renters will both contribute to the application, but landlords and utility companies will be paid directly by the state of South Carolina. Payment will occur by ACH (direct deposit) or by mailed check payable to the landlord or the landlord’s designee.

Additional Eligibility Information

Assistance is available for households in which one or more individuals meet the following criteria:

• Qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19;

• Demonstrates a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability; and

• Has a household income at or below 80% of county median income adjusted by family size. [click the link for county median income guidelines]

  • Based upon federal requirements, priority will be given to households with an income at or below 50% of the median income and those with an individual who has been unemployed for more than 90 days.

  • Household income can be determined by using income for calendar year 2020 or the household’s monthly income at the time of application.

Appointment Steps

• Simply click on this link or call the call center at 1.800.467.0412 to start the application process. Tenants will be notified immediately if the initial screening finds them eligible or if additional paperwork is necessary to complete their application.

Required Documentation

(not all are required, so encourage tenants to apply even if missing documentation)

Applicants should prepare:

• Pictures or scans of a photo identification (driver’s license, passport [including foreign passports], etc.)

• A copy (or picture) of their signed lease, or proof of rent payments (bank account statement [edit out any confidential information!] or Venmo/Zell screenshot) if a signed lease is not available.

• A 2020 Federal Tax Return (1040/1040EZ or equivalent) or pay stub from the last 60 days. Please note that only the first two pages of a tax return are required.

• Proof of financial hardship, such as:

  • Proof of unemployment from the South Carolina Department of Employment of Workforce (DEW), including website screenshots or confirmation letters from DEW.

  • Proof of lost wages – such as a layoff notice, an unemployment letter, proof of business closure

• Proof of risk of housing loss or experiencing homelessness, such as:

  • An eviction notice (if you have it)

  • A past due notice for rent or utilities (if you have it)