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ABOUT THE MILLENNIUM FELLOWSHIP - CLASS OF 2021

United Nations Academic Impact and MCN are proud to partner on the Millennium Fellowship. In 2021, over 25,000 young leaders on 2,000+ campuses across 153 nations applied to join the Class of 2021. 136 campuses worldwide (just 6%) were selected to host the 2,000+ Millennium Fellows. The Class of 2021 is bold, innovative, and inclusive.

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UNITED NATIONS ACADEMIC IMPACT AND MCN PROUDLY PRESENT MADISON KATE EICHHORN, A MILLENNIUM FELLOW AND CAMPUS DIRECTOR FOR THE CLASS OF 2021.

Furman University | South Carolina, United States | Advancing SDG 11 & UNAI 1

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" As a Sustainability and Urban Studies major, I have been exposed to the many inequalities distributed through the economic, social and political sectors. To create change, we must use systems thinking and collaboration to create just and safe spaces. I belive the UN Millennium Fellowship is an incredible opportunity to address significant issues in our world by shaping young leaders to do so. "

Millennium Fellowship Project: Affordable Housing in Greenville, County

Housing affordability is a significant issue in Greenville County, South Carolina. Sustainability and housing are correlated through many different frameworks. Raworth’s doughnut, a framework outlining sustainable development, labels housing under the social foundations for safe and just humanity. The Sustainable Development Goals include reduced inequalities and sustainable cities and communities. However, the housing affordability crisis cannot be solved before answering three key questions. First, what is classified as affordable housing? Second, what is the availability and accessibility of affordable housing in Greenville County? Lastly, what resources are located near affordable neighborhoods? To address these questions, I use Excel to evaluate housing sales data from the past 5 years. From the Greenville County single-family housing sales data, the average sale price of a home in 2016 was $220,569 compared to $281,606 in 2020. In fact, in 2016, 19.12% of homes sold below $120,000 compared to 7.43% in 2020. Additionally, the average price per square foot of homes has increased from $101.56 in 2016 to $132.51 in 2020. This increase proves housing prices are rising, which creates problems for long-term and new residents. Coupled with increasing population, up 11% between 2013-2018, Greenville County’s housing struggles to keep up. An affordable house in Greenville should account for no more than 30% of the area median income (AMI). In Greenville County, only 19,300 houses fall between 0%-30% AMI levels. The lack of affordable housing in Greenville County will only continue to get worse unless solutions are found.

About the Millennium Fellow

Madison Eichhorn is a senior Sustainability Science and Urban Studies double major at Furman University in Greenville, SC. She cares deeply about planning safe and sustainable communities that fit the need of all individuals. After Furman, she aspires to attend graduate school for urban planning and design.

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