USC Upstate honors TGHA for community leadership

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Housing Authority (TGHA) was honored this week by USC Upstate with the Greenville Campus Community Engagement in Education Activity of the Year Award.

The award was bestowed on the TGHA for its role in a ten-year project designed to support HUD's Moving to Work (MTW) program, an initiative that assists families with needs-based public housing vouchers to gain greater social mobility and be able to move out of the public housing system.

As a partner to TGHA, USC Upstate assists with program outcome tracking so that effectiveness and progress of the program can be effectively measured. 

"The program provides support for job training, education, and other needs to help participants set attainable goals and work toward them with support,” said Dr. Michelle Covington, Executive Director of Greenville Programs and Professor of Criminal Justice at USC Upstate.

The partnership includes a TGHA paid research assistantship for one USC Upstate student year-round for three years. The first student assistant selected was Kaylee Basto, a soon-to-be graduate of the Criminal Justice bachelors program and incoming Criminal Justice masters student, who is passionate about serving low-income families and encouraging social mobility.

“The partnership between USC Upstate and The Greenville Housing Authority (TGHA) is one of great importance,” said Terril Bates, the agency’s CEO. “The MTW program designed by TGHA is a sea change in the delivery of housing subsidies.  Its success will positively impact the availability of rental assistance to households in Greenville.”

About TGHA:

The Greenville Housing Authority administers federal funds and partners with private investors and owners in the provision of affordable housing.  It is part of a dynamic community that serves more than 3,000 households including veterans, elderly and disabled households. TGHA issues payments of $30 million to private property owners annually.   It plans, undertakes, finances, constructs and operates affordable housing projects and programs in the city of Greenville and Greenville County. Learn more at tgha.net.