Hilton Head Island’s local economy thrives on the availability of a robust workforce to maintain community services and keep property taxes low for residents. However, the lack of affordable housing is threatening this balance. The rising cost of housing is pushing out our valuable workers, leaving community services at risk and potentially increasing property taxes.

Affordable housing is not just about providing shelter; it's about maintaining the vibrancy and sustainability of our community. Private-public partnerships can play a pivotal role in addressing this issue by leveraging private sector resources for public benefit. Such collaborations have been successful in other communities across the country.

According to data from Hilton Head Island housing studies, there is a significant current demand for rental properties and homes to purchase that are affordable for local workers. And that gap continues to grow as more jobs are created off-island. By fostering private-public partnerships to support affordable housing initiatives, we can significantly help bridge this gap locally.

In June 2023, Hilton Head Town Council approved $3.3 million in funding to launch a new housing fund to support workforce housing initiatives within the Town and the Town is a partner in the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust which has received $3 million in state appropriations in its first year. 

We encourage our Hilton Head Town Council and private sector leaders to use these funds to invest in partnerships as part of the affordable housing strategy. By doing so, we can ensure that all members of our community have access to safe and affordable homes while preserving our local economy's vitality.

Please sign this petition to help keep resident’s property taxes low by investing in innovative solutions like private-public partnerships for affordable housing.