United Way educates on homeownership

When Carrie Staley’s husband died in July 2023, she faced difficult decisions regarding what to do with her family’s home and further, her family's future.

“I had to make decisions in spite of what [my children] liked,” Staley said. “People don’t want to think about death and dying, they think you are going to be here forever. [My husband] knew he was going to pass away, so he went ahead and had the land surveyed and assigned it to everybody because he said, ‘I don’t want y’all fighting over the land.’”

Stories like this are common. Many homeowners must make choices regarding their home after the recent death of a spouse. The result is a combination of grief and practical decision making. On December 27, the local social services organization United Way held a Homeowner Resource Session at Ned Branch Missionary Baptist Church in Barnwell to help people throughout Barnwell, Allendale and Bamberg counties navigate the homeownership system.

A complex web of laws and paperwork exists for homeowners. Since many homeowners make these decisions in their old age, they are often unable to make decisions with a sound mind, according to Ferlecia Cuthbertson, who helped organize the event. As a result, Cuthbertson said, it is best to understand how homeownership laws apply to them before they enter their old age.

“That was a new concept for our attendees, saying ‘oh goodness, this situation applies to me,’” said Cuthbertson, chief philanthropy officer of the United Way of Allendale, Barnwell & Bamberg Counties. “It was very important to make people think ahead.”

Financial literacy, particularly regarding homeownership, is one of the most important means of ensuring that land is passed to the next generation, according to Cuthbertson. Educating young people on the homeownership system is one of the first ways to help them.

“It’s important for children to know where all these important papers are, because the person could still be here and they couldn’t help you,” Staley said. “If they’re not in their right mind and they don’t remember where nothing is, they still can’t help you.”

The event educated attendees on some of the most common topics facing homeowners in the region: heirs property, wills and estates, notary services and veteran resources. The Homestead Exemption is a South Carolina tax exemption on the first $50,000 on a home’s value for homeowners over 65.

“I’m learning a lot of legal terms that I didn’t know,” said Diane Black, a homeowner of 50 years from Bamberg County. “They gave me a definition of what they are and what paperwork you need to have in order.”

United Way is preparing to expand the service to offer legal services to people in the region, including in Blackville and Hilda. Being able to grieve while making homeowner decisions is important, said Cuthbertson, whose mother died in July. Cuthbertson helped an attendee whose husband also died in July and had to make homeowner decisions.

“What was beautiful was that with it being six months [since July], that was still a fresh process for us and we had different perspectives,” Cuthbertson said. “I was able to speak as a child and she was able to speak as a spouse. … It was an experience that you wouldn’t want to have. But once you do it, you don’t want anybody else to have to.”

The United Way plans to hold similar events in the future as they seek to help the tri-county area through healthcare, financial stability, and education. They plan to hold a follow-up event in each county in an effort to reach as many people as possible. These events are open to all ages.

“It’s important information to have from day one,” said Cuthbertson of not waiting until you’re older to be prepared.

The local United Way can be contacted at (803) 259-2218 or info@unitedwayabb.org. Or visit their website at unitedwayabb.org.