Since October, 1989 Charleston Habitat has built 66 homes in the following neighborhoods: Accabee, Eastside, Westside, Rosemont, Union Heights, Chicora Cherokee, Park Circle and Midland Park. Charleston Habitat' goal is to continue strengthening Charleston and North Charleston urban communities by building new homes and placing qualified families in them. In 2009, the home repair program began and two homes have been made more energy efficient, handicap accessible, removed lead paint and asbestos siding, and more. Our first two home repairs were in West Ashley and in North Charleston.

Charleston Habitat targets families who make 35-60% of Charleston's median income ($56,400). These families usually don't make enough to procure funding from a traditional lending institution or bank nor are they eligible for any type of government housing assistance. In addition, many of the families Charleston Habitat works with sacrifice more than 50% of their monthly income to pay for the rental of an apartment that is insufficient size.

In the cities of Charleston and North Charleston, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $663. In order to afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $2,210 monthly or $26, 520 annually (National Low-Income Housing Coalition-NLIHC). At present a Charleston Habitat homeowner pays an average of $350 per month, interest free for a three to four bedroom home. This amount is just a little more than half the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment in Charleston.

CHFH is also going GREEN

In November 2009:
« Charleston Habitat for Humanity (CHFH) will begin construction on an ECOBILT home in downtown Charleston installing SOLAR THERMAL panels on the house!
« Using this system insures maximum energy harvest and hot water delivery!


In July 2009:
« CHFH began construction on their first EarthCraft certified home construction project!
« EarthCraft is a system of checks with a variety of ways to help homes reduce utility costs and protect the environment.
« EarthCraft House can increase the energy efficiency of a home by 30% which can result in a reduction of over 1100 pounds of greenhouse gases introduced into the atmosphere each year.


In February 2008:
« CHFH began building Energy Star rated homes.
« Energy Star is a rating system that insures the home is sealed, lowering the demand for energy, and making the most efficient use out of needed energy production.
« Energy Star techniques include better air sealing, better insulation, programmable thermostats, CFL light bulbs, and energy star rated appliances in the kitchen.