Housing Action Committee approves displacement mitigation support plan after debate over questionnaire and funding

The Hilton Head Island Housing Action Committee on Dec. 9 recommended the town move forward with a displacement mitigation support plan intended to coordinate responses when residents are displaced by development or other events.

Quincy, the town’s housing coordinator, told the committee the plan had completed staff and legal review and that written comments received included a suggestion to shorten a voluntary developer questionnaire aimed at identifying displaced households. "It is very lengthy. It may be best to reduce it in size a bit so that developers will be more likely to fill it out," Quincy said, adding the questionnaire supplies information for a community response team to help displaced residents.

Committee members debated whether the questionnaire should be mandatory. One member argued developers would likely cooperate because they need approvals and permits; another said a voluntary approach and public-relations incentives might be more effective. Quincy said staff would take the comments under consideration and follow up with development services to share details with the committee.

A central funding question was whether town budget dollars could be used to pay for displacement mitigation. A committee member pointed out the town previously funded the Home Safety and Repair program and asked why similar funds could not be directed to displacement mitigation. Quincy responded that the home repair program had been supported with ARPA funds, which carry different restrictions, and that town budget dollars "cannot be utilized for personal benefit," so displacement mitigation funding is expected to rely on grants and philanthropy; the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry was identified as a likely fundraising partner.

After public comment and discussion, a motion to recommend adoption of the displacement mitigation support plan was moved and seconded and the committee voiced approval. The committee chair declared the motion carried and the plan will be forwarded to town council for further consideration.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; members exchanged remarks indicating support and no formal nay votes were spoken during the recorded exchange. The next procedural step is for staff to share revised questionnaire language and any changes before the council-level review.