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Hiya, Columbia. 👋 The National Low Income Housing Coalition just released a new study that reports the gap between renters’ wages + the cost of rental housing across the US. 🏠 |
Which got us thinking — how much does it cost, on average, to rent a two-bedroom apartment in the Columbia area? 🧐 Let’s break it down, by the numbers.
💰 $931. The Fair Market Rental (FMR) price (including utilities) for a two-bedroom apartment in the Columbia Metropolitan area. In SC, the FMR for the same-sized apartment is $900.
💰 99. The number of hours you’d have to work per week on minimum wage (in SC this is $7.25) to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Columbia. A renter that makes a mean wage would need to work 49 hours a week to afford the same-sized apartment.
💰 2.5. The number of full-time jobs – at minimum wage – it takes to afford a two-bedroom apartment (FMR) in Columbia.
💰 0.2%. The percent that Columbia’s rents have increased over the past month, according to Apartment List.
💰 $17.90. The hourly wage a Columbia resident would have to make to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the city. That’s a yearly income of $37,240.
💰 41%. The percent of Columbia’s population currently renting. Out of 150,309 households in the city, 61,859 rent.
💰 31. South Carolina currently ranks as the 31st most expensive state for renters in the country. Hawaii is the most expensive + Arkansas is the least expensive.
For more city data, state data, and to compare with other metropolitan areas, go here and click around. It’s really fun to put our numbers beside Hawaii’s. 💸 |
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Yes, I need one for rent + bills. |
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Yes, but I just don’t like living by myself. |
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Coronavirus
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○ On Thursday, DHEC announced 1,538 new cases of coronavirus and 49 additional deaths in SC. Two new cases of MIS-C, both in children under 10, were also announced. That brings the total number of cases in SC of COVID-19 to 76,315, and the total deaths to 1,294.
○ UofSC students living on campus in the fall will be required to get tested for COVID-19 prior to move in. The rule, which also applies to Greek Village and some surrounding apartment complexes, requires students to show proof of a negative test result within 10 days of move-in, the presence of antibodies, or a former COVID-19 infection. (The State)
○ The SC Department of Education will require students and drivers to wear masks on school buses. Busses will be boarded back to front + will only be filled to 50% capacity with maximum ventilation. (WIS)
○ In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SCEMD is changing parts of the Statewide Hurricane Plan. Officials encourage evacuees to use shelters as a last resort + stay with friends or family inland. More buses will be added to help evacuate affected areas while maintaining social distancing. Click here to download SCEMD’s app to receive important notifications. (WLTX)
Click the button below for local resources regarding the coronavirus.
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Hey, there. Looking for today’s #MustDo events? In accordance with the
CDC’s recommendations regarding public gatherings, we have decided to postpone public event coverage for the time being. We look forward to bringing you Columbia’s #MustDo events soon (until then, feel free to submit your virtual events
here).
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#COLAtoday
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If you take a stroll down Main Street you might notice things look a little different.
Able SC, a community-based nonprofit that provides independent living services to people of all ages with all types of disabilities, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, by displaying banners on Main Street. The civil rights law was passed in 1990 + prevents discrimination in the workplace based on a disability.
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#DYK that your photo could be featured in our newsletter? Just use #COLAtoday on social media.
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News Notes
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Weather
○ 92º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain
Biz
○ Richland Library received $140,000 from the American Library Association to expand programming to small businesses + entrepreneurs from low-income and underrepresented groups. The grant will also create learning resources for any library to support entrepreneurs in its community. The library was one of 13 public libraries around the country to receive this funding.
Number
○ $20 million. The amount allocated by Richland County to fix damage that was caused by the flooding in 2015 + improve water resources. Portions of the funding will include buying up flood-prone properties, issuing forgivable loans to fix flood damage + more. The federal funding will be distributed from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development + focus on lower-income communities throughout the county. (The State)
○ 24. The age of local patient Savannah T. when she experienced a stroke. Luckily, emergency care at Lexington Medical Center saved her life. Watch her recovery story here. If you or someone you love experiences stroke symptoms (like face droop, arm weakness or speech difficulty), call 9-1-1 immediately. Ⓟ
UofSC
○ UofSC announced a new strategic plan designed to increase diversity and expand research + teaching skills. The plan, called For South Carolina and unanimously endorsed by the Board of Trustees, will allocate more than $100 million over five years. (Midlands Biz)
TheBuy
○ Iconic items from Yesterdays Restaurant and Tavern in Five Points will be available in an auction on Saturday. Items for sale include vintage flea market objects, church pews + the famous cowboy in a bathtub. (The State)
Community
○ The Town of Irmo announced a new initiative to reduce the recent crime spike involving those under the age of 21. A new ‘Youth Zone’ program has been proposed that will include activities that serve the needs of young people in the area. (Free Times)
Cause
○ Aflac Charitable Fund awarded Communities In Schools of the Midlands $5,000 in support of the Overcoming Obstacles Program. The program works to increase life skills in underserved children + youth in rural area schools located in Richland and Lexington counties.
Edu
○ EdVenture Children’s Museum has partnered with the SC Department of Education to provide an educational experience for families while following health guidelines. The partnership, which helps offset the cost of making changes to promote safety, will allow the museum to continue many educational demonstrations throughout the summer. Click here for a full list of events. (Metro Columbia CEO)
#Asked
○ We are working on a back-to-school guide with all the need to know information as students, parents + teachers get ready to get back at it. Do you have any questions or content you think we should include? Let us know here.
Civic
○ A lawsuit filed with the SC Supreme Court is challenging the constitutionality of the Heritage Act – the law that prohibits the removal of certain statues from state property without a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly. (WIS)
Tech
○ Are you a fan of SXSW? Be sure to check out Dig South – the South’s tech hub. Its Virtual Tech Summit started yesterday + is streaming live again today. Be sure to tune in for stand-out content, networking opportunities, investor pitches, exhibitors, and more.
FeaturedJob
○ Midlands Reading Consortium (MRC), a direct service program of United Way of the Midlands, is seeking School Liaisons to help enroll pre-kindergarten to 2nd grade students in one-to-one reading engagement sessions, educate parents about the importance of reading at home, increase home libraries through book distribution, and promote literacy through general outreach and community engagement. Learn more about the opportunity and how to apply here. Ⓟ
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Hamilton's Connections to SC Continued
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Turns out we’re all feeling the Hamilton fever right now, which is just fine by me (Jess here again). After we had a little history lesson this week about John Laurens, you shared even more fun facts and connections that the Broadway show has to SC. DYK- Aaron Burr’s daughter Theodosia also has a tie to SC.
“Dear Theodosia, what to say to you? You have my eyes, you have your mother's name.”
Theodosia Burr was born in NY and was a highly educated young lady, what else would you expect from the daughter of Aaron Burr? She had many suitors and ended up marrying Joseph Alston who went on to become the 44th Governor of South Carolina and a member of the SC House of Representatives.
Do you know more cool historical facts that can connect Hamilton to SC? Let us know by replying to this email and we can keep the music + conversation going. |
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#Shareworthy
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The Wrap
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Answered: Following yesterday’s conversation, we asked about y’all’s experience donating blood and approx. 63% of those who responded are either regular donors or have donated previously. You go, Cola. 👏
🔄 Catch up on any newsletters you may have missed here.
💭 Say Hello: What do you want to know about your city?
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