A senate RESOLUTION

TO CONGRATULATE columbia housing authority UPON THE OCCASION OF ITS ninetieth ANNIVERSARY AND TO COMMEND columbia housing authority FOR ITS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE columbia COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Columbia Housing Authority as it celebrates this important milestone; and

Whereas, the beginnings of Columbia Housing Authority can be traced to the early 1930s, when the country was working its way out of the Great Depression that had been triggered by the stock market crash of 1929; and

Whereas, in January 1934, the Civil Works Administration began surveying housing conditions in Columbia, South Carolina and found that more than half of the homes lacked indoor tubs and showers and about thirty percent had no running water; and

Whereas, in April 1934, the Columbia City Council adopted a resolution by Mayor L. B. Owens to create the Housing Authority of Columbia (today's Columbia Housing Authority), a five-member volunteer housing committee with the goal of "eradicating certain slum conditions"; and

Whereas, today, Columbia Housing is the largest public housing authority in the state of South Carolina and the single largest provider of affordable housing in the state; and

Whereas, Columbia Housing puts approximately two and a half million dollars monthly and thirty million annually into the local economy with payments to local landlords participating in its Housing Choice Voucher Program; and

Whereas, Columbia Housing currently has more than one hundred eighty million dollars in development underway and scheduled for completion in 2024; and

Whereas, Columbia Housing is celebrating its ninetieth anniversary and sharing its rich history with community events, beginning with an event on April 30th, 2024; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate greatly appreciate the dedication and commitment of the Columbia Housing Authority to serving the people and the State of South Carolina.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate Columbia Housing Authority upon the occasion of its ninetieth anniversary and commend Columbia Housing Authority for its many years of dedicated service to the Columbia community and the people and the State of South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Housing Authority, Yvonda A. Bean.

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