A dozen LISC offices work with TD Bank to create affordable housing in communities that need it most. In Upstate South Carolina, where our office opened in 2019, LISC benefits from the leadership of TD Bank’s John F. Verreault III, who chairs the Local Advisory Committee. In a new Q+A, learn why supporting affordable housing is so important to TD Bank, and to Verreault.
(Photo above: Affordable single-family home in Spartanburg, South Carolina developed by Oak and Ave Impact, with support from LISC Upstate South Carolina and TD Bank)
TD Bank has been a steady supporter of LISC’s Upstate South Carolina office since it opened in 2019. That support has helped LISC and its partners to advance a range of affordable housing projects for Upstate residents. Highlights include single-family homeownership opportunities for seven families in Spartanburg and Greer, plus preserving the affordability of a 36-unit apartment building for seniors in Charleston.
Upstate South Carolina is one of a dozen LISC offices creating affordable housing with support from TD Bank. On top of its financial contribution, TD Bank brings LISC Upstate South Carolina another valuable resource: the leadership of John F. Verreault III, the bank’s community development manager for Spartanburg. As chair of the Local Advisory Committee for our office there, made up of local leaders from philanthropy, banking, business, and the nonprofit community, Verreault helps shape strategy for LISC Upstate South Carolina, mobilize resources to grow its impact, and forge connections to like-minded partners.
LISC checked in with Verreault to learn why supporting affordable housing is so important to TD Bank, and to him. Check out our Q+A below.
Why has TD Bank made a commitment to bolster affordable housing options for Upstate communities?
TD Bank has had a longstanding commitment to continually address the critical need for safe, affordable housing within the communities it serves, especially for low- to moderate-income individuals and communities of color. We are dedicated to meeting the needs of our communities in Upstate South Carolina and across our footprint by finding meaningful ways to make affordable housing more sustainable because in order for communities to thrive, individuals must have the foundation of a safe home that is not cost prohibitive.
What makes LISC a good partner for TD Bank?
LISC and TD Bank are aligned in our strategic focus to fill critical gaps in housing access and stability. TD understands the critical role front-line organizations, like LISC, play in addressing the challenges of affordable housing, which is why we are proud to work with them to build a more stable, secure future for our shared communities in the Upstate and in several metros across our footprint.
What does it mean to you, on a personal level, to be helping create affordable housing in communities where it is in short supply?
Working in community development, and specifically with Dawn Deck (director of LISC Upstate South Carolina), is perhaps the most personally rewarding role in which I have ever served. It is a role where my professional values line up well with my personal values. And to be able to do this impactful work on behalf of TD, an organization that has been committed to these efforts for years, is an amazing opportunity. Ultimately, I've been afforded the chance to align and foster my personal beliefs alongside my professional work to make a difference in the communities I care for so deeply.
