North Charleston officials propose reallocating $600,000 originally designated for a troubled anti-violence grant program to bolster an affordable housing initiative. This funding shift comes as the city pivots from its $1.3 million Gun Violence Prevention Grant, which has been mired in a federal corruption investigation involving the alleged acceptance of kickbacks by a city councilman and nonprofit leaders.
The money could help finance 120 affordable housing units on a 6.5-acre lot near Northwoods Mall. Designed for residents earning between 20 percent and 80 percent of the area’s median income, the project is set to address pressing housing needs in a rapidly developing area near a planned transit line. City officials anticipate that grants will not be distributed this fiscal year, so they are prioritizing immediate community needs by potentially diverting the funds.
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