Opinion

BY BRENDA DOOLEY

Sometimes it takes a crisis to bring a long-time issue to everyone’s attention. The need for affordable, attainable workforce housing on Hilton Head Island and the broader Lowcountry region isn’t new. But a recent crisis has certainly brought a whole new focus on the matter.

A safe, decent place to live, whether owned or rented, is a basic need for everyone. A vibrant community that is widely recognized as a top vacation destination needs to provide a diverse range of housing for its service industry, teachers, healthcare providers, law enforcement and other vital workers.

Residents, as well as tourists, suffer when employers can’t fill positions. The whole community suffers when too many residents are living in unsafe, unaffordable housing conditions.

Since the start of the pandemic, an already-challenging situation has grown. The cost of homeownership has gone up, while available inventory has gone down.

As people are priced out of homeownership, the cost of rent has climbed out of reach for many. A standard measurement of what a family should pay for housing is no more than 30 percent of their total income. Too many families now are paying close to half or more of their income for housing—and often still living in unsafe or overcrowded situations.

When so much goes to housing, there’s little left for transportation, healthcare, groceries and debt reduction and no chance of preparing for unexpected emergencies. Many are left one flat tire away from disaster. There’s no doubt they are struggling. Families live in fear their rent will go up past the point of their ability to pay, and we hear often about rents that have doubled or even tripled.

Our mission at Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity is to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1990, through the generosity of donors and volunteers, we’ve helped 124 families realize the dream of owning their own homes. Studies show homeownership benefits a family in many ways in addition to the financial aspect. Children do better in school and go on to higher education at a higher rate. Parents are more involved in their children’s education and in their community. Habitat for Humanity’s program helps families build strength, stability and self-reliance through housing. The town of Hilton Head Island recognized this need back in 2011 when they made a commitment to increasing the availability of affordable housing by providing 14 acres to Habitat for Humanity. The community, known as The Glen, is almost built out now, providing the opportunity of homeownership for 32 hard-working families.

Town Council continues to look for ways to address the issue with the Northpointe private/public development partnership, the recent approval of a workforce housing framework and agreeing to participate with seven other local municipalities to create a regional housing trust fund.

New focus has brought new hope. Families in need of housing they can afford should feel encouraged by these recent events. Habitat for Humanity staff, donors and volunteers will continue to advocate and work on their behalf.

AMY COYNE BREDESON, CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Amy Coyne Bredeson is a freelance journalist who has written for various local publications during the past 20 years. She and her husband, Matt, live in Bluffton with their two children, 18-year-old Elijah, and 16-year-old Chloe, and their two dogs, Lola and Chewie.

Amy is the South Carolina chair for the Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Alliance, a nonprofit organization that works to improve the lives of people fighting tuberous sclerosis complex, a rare genetic disease that causes tumors to grow in the vital organs. She began volunteering with the group after her daughter was diagnosed with TSC in 2010.

Amy has organized several fundraisers, educational meetings and social events for the Carolinas chapter of the TSC Alliance. She and her daughter have traveled to Washington, D.C., on several occasions to ask Congressional members from South Carolina for their support of continued federal funding of TSC research.

To learn more about TSC or to donate, tsalliance.org.

We all know how important skin care can be in the height of summer, but living well in the skin you’re in is a year-round job. Winter is still a wonderland in the Lowcountry, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid supporting your skin. Whether you’re striving to avoid dry, itchy skin, heal harsher winter conditions, or maintain healthy prevention of skin cancers, here are your best bets for the – somewhat – cooler months.

Don’t like it hot. Lower temps and shorter showers and not over-washing hands is always good advice. Your skin pays the price because scalding water can strip essential natural oils and dry out skin.

Deep conditioning in colder conditions. Moisturizing is often overlooked as it can seem non-essential but it’s anything but, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The more you lose hydration, the more it needs to be replaced. In the winter, your skin needs all the help it can get, from chapped lips to cracked hands to whole-body healing.

Take cover. Skin damage is not caused by heat or high temperatures, it’s caused by the sun, and especially in the Lowcountry, the sun still shines all winter long. Don’t be afraid to pull out the hats and scarves to keep out the chill and extrabright UV rays.

Hydrate. To avoid dehydrating, hook up a humidifier, trade out a few caffeinated cups for hot water and lemon.