“The future is uncertain for one lowcountry initiative.”
WSAV reporter Brittany Shane covered this story on July 22, 2013. To view the video of this report, click on the following link:
Article Link.
Over the past several months, NOC has been engaged in an on-going dialogue with the new Massachusetts-based owner of Bluffton House, where NOC’s Bluffton Program Center is located, and where NOC has provided core services related to education, health care, and workforce development over the past three years. The new owners have indicated that they will no longer permit use of two apartments by NOC, beginning in August for one unit and November for the other unit. Once vacated, these units will be rented out.
Bluffton House is a low-income housing complex in which the owner receives certain benefits through Federal tax regulation. Implicit in this regulation is the expectation that the owner will support the community through programs such as those provided by NOC. Removing NOC’s programs will have a detrimental impact on many of the people (including 200 children) living in this neighborhood, which includes more than 250 apartment units. NOC has had enormous impact on the community over the past three years. The local community is being encouraged to mobilize support for NOC programs at Bluffton House.
