Media Coverage

The Daniel Island News
July 12, 2007
Top Stories House Majority Whip Clyburn visits DI
By Tom Ratzloff

Tells group at Seven Farms Apartments that Congress plans to make affordable housing a priority

Seven Farms Apartments resident Bonnie Barr realized a longtime dream when she met legendary ironworker Philip Simmons last Friday during a ceremony last Friday to honor U.S. Rep. James Clyburn. Barr moved to the Daniel Island housing complex nearly three months ago and said she loves living there. These are challenging times for affordable housing proponents, according to Tracy Doran, founder of the Humanities Foundation. Her non-profit organization has been a Lowcountry leader in addressing affordable housing concerns since 1992. "I can honestly say that this is the most difficult and challenging time facing affordable housing that I have ever seen in the last 15 years," said Doran, who noted that rising insurance rates and property taxes, coupled with stretched or diminishing governmental grant monies, have impeded efforts to secure new housing properties for her organization. But help may be on the way, according to U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, who was a guest of honor last Friday at Daniel Island's Seven Farms Apartments.

The South Carolina Democrat said affordable housing would receive new congressional priority this fall. "In the next few weeks, Congress is going to be in a tremendous crunch as we find a way to bring the national budget in balance," Clyburn said. "So much is under threat and we are operating at tremendous deficits. It's currently at $280 billion, debt that we are passing along to our children and grandchildren. In January, when we took over the new leadership, we recognized that we must put some discipline in our system. We adopted a … pay-as-you-go plan and we are not going to continue to pass along the debt… But, in so doing, we are reordering priorities in our government and one of those priorities will be affordable housing… You will have affordable housing; there's no question about that. The question that remains is how we're going to pay for it." The Majority Whip said he is looking for creative ways to bring the private sector into the process with tax credits to help people on fixed incomes and wage earners whose incomes have remained stagnant.

He said he was impressed with Daniel Island's Seven Farms Apartments and quipped that he could envision living there. "I'm going to have a birthday in two weeks and I'm going to be eligible for all this," Clyburn smiled, sweeping his hand toward the new housing units. "I'm interested in this not just to fix things up for you; I'm interested in it because there's something here for me. If it will work for me it will work for you, too." Doran presented Clyburn with a plaque honoring him for efforts at promoting affordable housing. "We are excited to have the opportunity to show Congressman Clyburn how important his support is," she said.