COLUMBIA, S.C. — There’s a growing need for affordable housing in the Midlands. For many residents, owning a home feels out of reach.

62-year-old Debra Mims has never owned her own home.

"It would be a blessing. My mother died when I was about 15 years old, and I stayed in foster care, and it was something that I wanted to get for my daughter. So when I leave this world, I will have a place to leave her."

She lives on disability, rents from the Columbia Housing Authority , and uses Section 8 assistance.

"You got people paying two or three thousand dollars in rent without Section 8, I couldn't afford to be where I'm at now."

Columbia Housing is rehabbing 273 homes of public housing across Columbia and Richland County through its Vision 2030 plan. Homes will cost about 80% of market

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