Charleston Habitat for Humanity (CHCF) is a privately operating affiliate of habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit, ecumenical, Christian housing organization committed to bringing an end to poverty and substandard housing around the world. CHFH was founded in 1989 by local citizens concerned for the great quantity of people living in poor housing conditions as a result of Hurricane Hugo. Since that time, CHFH has build 70 homes, giving simple, decent, and affordable housing to over 350 people in our local community. In 2009, CHFH also started repairing homes for existing homeowners and had completed 6 repair projects including one historic house.

CHFH does not receive any funding from its parent organization, Habitat for Humanity International, but we share resources with nationwide partners like Lowes, Home Depot, Valspar, Whirlpool, and many more.

Mission Principles

1. Demonstrate the love and teachings of Jesus Christ.
2. Advocate on behaf of those in need of decent shelter.
3. Focus on shelter by building and renovating simple, decent, affordable houses.
4. Engage broad community through inclusive leadership and diverse partnerships.
5. Promote dignity through full partnership with Habitat homeowners and future home partners.
6. Promote transformational and sustainable community development.

Habitat Around the World

CHFH supports Habitat’s global mission through tithing to its international Habitat partner in La Ceiba, Honduras. For ever home we build in Charleston, we raise enough additional support to send funding to have a home built in Honduras as well – our “house for a house” tithing program. We have built 40 homes in Honduras so far through our tithing program.

How Does it Work?

Volunteer labor, monetary contributions, donations of building materials, and proceeds from our ReStore enable Charleston Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable simple, decent, affordable homeownership opportunities for low-income, working families.

The cost to build a house is relative to location, land, and material availability. Currently, a Habitat home in Charleston cost and average of $60,000. CHFH raises the material costs prior to beginning construction through partnerships with local business, faith groups, grants, foundations, and individual donors.

Homeowner Partners

Habitat is NOT a give-away program. We offer a helping “hand up,” but not a “hand-out.” Each homeowner family is required to invest 500 “sweat equity’ hours of volunteering by helping build their own house as well as other partner family homes. This reduces the cost of a house, increases the pride of ownership among family members, and fosters the development of positive relationships between them and their community. Partner families are also required to attend monthly workshops such as home maintenance, will workshop and financial management. These workshops are offered in order to prepare families for the responsibility which accompanies homeownership. All Family Services work is HUD accredited.

How are Partner Families Selected?

First, interested families fill out our housing application. Next, the application is reviewed by members of the family selection committee. Families are then chosen based on (1) their need, which includes but is not limited to current structural damage, access to clean water, overcrowding, and more. They are also chosen based on their (2) willingness to become partners in the program and complete their 500 hours of sweat equity, as well as (3) their ability to pay a monthly mortgage. Every Habitat affiliate follows a non-discriminatory policy of family selection. Race, religion, ethnic origin, sex, marital status, family status, age, and disability are not factors in choosing the families to become partners with Habitat. All Family Services work is HUD accredited.

Selling for No Profit and No Interest:

Charleston Habitat for Humanity (CHFH) is about affordable homeownership. The principles of owning a home, a no-profit selling price and no interest mortgage are essential to CHFH’s vision. These are based on Biblical teachings that when you lend to the poor, lend to them freely by not taxing a heavier burden upon them (Ex. 22:25). CHFH homes are sold at no profit to qualifying families who pay monthly interest-free mortgages to CHFH. Since 1989, only six homes have been subject to foreclosure out of the 70 we have built, three of which were vacant.

Simple, Decent and Affordable:

Charleston Habitat for Humanity seeks to be good stewards of its resources by building houses with as many families as possible with the money and resources it receives. Providing the opportunity for homeownership must not become a heavier burden than the partner family can bear. The ongoing, non-fixed costs of utilities, taxes, insurance, and maintenance must be considered along with the fixed mortgage payments, so that low-income homeowners are not forced out of their homes by economic factors largely beyond their control. Partner families are also responsible for all monthly escrow payments, including termite bond, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and at time, flood insurance.

Green Building

Charleston Habitat has become conscious of the need for energy efficient sustainable homes. Since 2008, we have been building Energy Star rated homes and as of 2009, we have begun building EarthCraft certified homes. We believe it is not only important to be good stewards of our environment, but to provide efficient homes for families and communities which will last and ultimately make the cost of living more affordable.

Charleston Habitat for Humanity also operates a ReStore, a re-use, re-sale and recycle store. We take donations of household supplies, furniture, appliances, building supplies, diverting thousands of pounds of good re-usable materials from filling landfills and re-selling it to raise funds for our housing mission.

Charleston Habitat and the Government

Charleston habitat for Humanity has received government funding from federal sources like CDBG, HOME, and one SHOP grant in 2003, which has greatly assisted with community development and home sponsorship.

CHFH homeowners contribute approximately $21,000 annually in taxes.

CHFH also utilizes volunteers from the Corporation for National and Community Service. AmeriCorps programs like State and National, and the VISTA program have provided quality, full-time assistance which has expanded programs as well as provided AmeriCorps members with a learning and service opportunity.

Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Volunteers consist of individuals, schools, businesses, military, churches, and civic organizations. Volunteers offer their expertise and willingness to learn in home closings, construction, sub-contracting work, legal matters, operating the ReStore, serving on committees and the Board of Directors, providing lunch for construction volunteers, and assisting in administrative offices. Without them, the mission of Habitat would not be possible.

In 2010, Charleston Habitat had 2,151 people volunteer over 16,000 hours! According to Independent Sectors estimation of the value of volunteer time in the state of South Carolina, the dollar value contributed equals $250,865!



For more Habitat Homeowner guidelines, please click here.


More detailed information on the Homeowner Home Rehabilitation Program is available here. This program was launched in April 2009.