President's Special Project

Welcome

GFWC-SC President’s Special Project
Habitat for Humanity
Chairmen: Suzette Porth

What is Habitat

 

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is a nonprofit volunteer organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  Habitat invites people from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need. Volunteers make it work. Citizens, businesses, churches, and civic organizations from the community come together as volunteers to carry out important work of home construction, family selection and support, fundraising, finding land and other critical tasks of the Habitat affiliate. The lifeblood of Habitat is the volunteers. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and renovates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. 

How Habitat works

 

Habitat Houses are sold at no profit to partner families, financed with affordable no-interest mortgages that are issued for 15-25 years. House mortgage payments go into an account that is used to build more Habitat Houses.

Habitat for Humanity’s criteria for selecting homeowners is based on three principles:

• The family’s need for adequate shelter
• The ability of the family to pay its mortgage payments
• The willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity

Homeowner families are required to invest “sweat equity” labor hours into the construction of their houses as well as other Habitat houses. Mortgage payments are typically about $320 a month, which includes escrow for taxes, insurance, termite contract and repair. A down payment of $500 is required by each homeowner for their Habitat house and is payable at the time of the closing. Each Habitat house takes about 16 (Fridays and Saturdays) weeks to build. The average cost of a Habitat house in South Carolina is $50.000.

Habitat works!  It is a “hand-up” not a “hand-out” program.

 

Habitat Stores

The Habitat Stores are great places to buy used furniture, appliances and housewares.

The Habitat Stores are open to the public and sell at very reasonable prices, just about anything you may need to furnish or provide for your home. All items sold in the stores are donated. Some are new, but most are gently used items. All proceeds from the sales made in the resale Stores benefit the local Habitat for Humanity. Donations along with purchases are greatly appreciated, and both help build homes for people in need.

 

Women Build

The Women Build project provides a home funded and built by women for a  single mother and her children. A committee plans, organizes and raises the funds for the home a year in advance. In addition, the house is built predominately by women of all experience levels and backgrounds. For the skilled volunteer, the project provides a way for women to use their knowledge and skills to make a difference in the life of another woman. For the unskilled, it provides a way for women to learn construction skills. For all the volunteers, it is a way to meet new people, from new friendships, and to help a low-income family achieve home ownership. Women Build is a rich, rewarding experience for everyone involved. Imagine the difference your contribution will make for a single mom and her kids for the rest of their lives. For some, this will be the only home they will ever own. The Women Build Team is proud to help them achieve their  goal of homeownership. Lowe’s is a national underwriter of the Women Build project and hosts how-to-clinics at the local stores.

Habitat Harvesters

 

Habitat Volunteers salvage items from homes or commercial buildings that are scheduled for demolition.  Everything from light fixtures to hardwood floors are obtained in these "Habitat Harvester" projects and are then offered for sale in our Habitat Stores.

If you like pulling out nails rather than pounding them in, Habitat Harvesters is for you!

 

How to Donate

• Funds
• Land
• Materials
• Building Tools
• Building Equipment
• In-Kind Service (electricians, plumbers, drywall finishers, concrete finishers, roofers, siding contractors, marketing skills, grant writing, etc.)
 
• Meals
• Office Supplies
• Landscaping materials
• Used car or boat (to be auctioned)
• First Aid Supplies
• Through your Estate Planning
• Hold a Fundraiser
• Give items to ReSale Store

How to Volunteer

 

• At Construction Site
• At ReSale Store
• On a Committee (Finance, ReSale Store, Building, Communications, Fund Development, Planning,  Property, Personnel, Family Selection, Family Partner and others)
• Transportation
• To serve lunches
• Answer phone
• Make copies
• Type letters
• Work on newsletter
• Stuff envelopes
• Pick up donations
• Sponsor a house
• Host a speaker
• Be a political advocate
• Refer families
• Publicize Habitat events

 

How much does a house cost?

Habitat for Humanity volunteers provide the muscle and motivation.  It is the caring people like you along with corporations and other groups who supply the building materials.  Here is a selection of items that your donation could contribute to a home.

  

$10	Box of Nails	$500	Light Fixture/Ceiling Fans
$35	Bundle of Shingles	$750	Washer & Dryer
$50	Medicine Cabinet	$800	Landscaping
$75	Toilet	$1,500	Kitchen/Bath Cabinets
$200	Window	$1,500	Sheet rock
$100	Sink	$1,850	Siding
$250	Front Door	$2,600	Flooring
$250	Shower	$4,000	Heating
$300	Shed	$5,000	Roofing
$50,000 buys a whole Habitat Home

Box of Nails
Volunteers bring a Habitat home together, but what keeps it together? Nails. Please donate the cost of a small box of nails because it takes over 41,000 nails to build a Habitat house.
Shingles
It takes approximately 54 bundles of shingles to finish a roof on the average Habitat house. Help us put a roof over the heads of families in need by donating the cost of a square of shingles.
Window
Imagine the happiness a new Habitat homeowner experiences looking out a window of their new home for the first time. Help open windows of opportunity for Habitat partner families by donating the cost of a window.
Front Door
Help Habitat partner families cross the threshold of opportunity by donating the cost of a front door. The average door for a Habitat home costs $250.00
Siding
Siding provides an inexpensive and effective means of protecting a home from the elements and gives the home a beautiful, neat appearance. Help Habitat partner families come home to a house they’ll be proud to own.  

A “Gift-in-kind” contribution is defined as any material, service or contract labor donated to Habitat for Humanity toward the construction and /or maintenance of one or more of its houses, administrative buildings or ReSale store.  Gift-in-kind contributions are tax deductible and contributors receive a donation letter for tax purposes.

Habitat Affiliates within
the GFWC of South Carolina Districts

GFWC-SC Central District

Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity	209 S. Sumter Street	Columbia	29201
Sumter Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 2746	Sumter	29151

GFWC-SC Eastern District

Clarendon Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 68	Manning	29102
Darlington County Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 1983	Hartsville	29551
Greater Florence Habitat for Humanity	203 S. Kuker Street	Florence	29501
The Greater Lake City Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 742	Lake City	29560
Habitat for Humanity of Georgetown County, SC	P. O. Box 2411	Georgetown	29442
Habitat for Humanity of Horry County	P. O. Box 2492	Myrtle Beach	29578
Habitat for Humanity of Marlboro County, Inc.	P. O. Box 178	Tatum	29594
Williamsburg Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 738	Kingstree	29556
Habitat for Humanity of Marion County	P. O. Box 873	Marion	29571

GFWC-SC Midlands District

Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity	209 S. Sumter Street	Columbia	29201
Edisto Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 2489	Orangeburg	29116

GFWC-SC North Central District

Habitat for Humanity of Lancaster County	P. O. Box 1441	Lancaster	29721
Habitat for Humanity of Kershaw County	P. O. Box 1525	Camden	29020
Habitat for Humanity of York County	P. O. Box 10984	Rock Hill	29731

GFWC-SC Northern District

Habitat for Humanity of Cherokee County	P. O. Box 51	Gaffney	29342
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County	P. O. Box 1206	Greenville	29602
Laurens County Habitat for Humanity	P. O Box 184	Laurens	29360
Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg	P.O. Box 18172	Spartanburg	29318
Habitat for Humanity of Union County, SC	P. O. Box 96	Union	29379
Lower Spartanburg County Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 537	Woodruff	29388

GFWC-SC Northwestern District

Anderson County Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 5684	Anderson	29623
Pickens County Habitat for Humanity	103 S. Pendleton St.	Easley	29640
Abbeville/McCormick County Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 238	McCormick	29835
Oconee County Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 685	Seneca	29679

GFWC-SC Southern District

Charleston Habitat for Humanity	731 Meeting Street	Charleston	29403
Hampton Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 886	Hampton	29924
Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity	P. O Box  5725	Hilton Head	29938
Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 1622	Beaufort	29901
Sea Island Habitat for Humanity	3487 McGill Court	Johns Island	29455
Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County	808 Whitesville Rd #B	Moncks Corner	29461
East Cooper Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 1990	Mount Pleasant	29465
Dorchester Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 1685	Summerville	29484
Colleton Habitat for Humanity	P. O. 887	Walterboro	29488

GFWC-SC Western District

Aiken County Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 3323	Aiken	29802
Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 68	Greenwood	29648
Abbeville/McCormick County Habitat for Humanity	P. O. Box 238	McCormick	29835
Habitat for Humanity of North Augusta, Inc.	P. O. Box 8121	North Augusta	29861

Lowe's has a long-standing tradition with Habitat for Humanity International, providing donations and manpower since 1994.  Lowe's has contributed more than $10 million and countless hours of volunteer support to Habitat for Humanity and is proud to continue its role as national underwriter of Habitat's Women Build program. Lowe’s sponsors Habitat builds across the country serving diverse communities and is pleased to partner in Gulf Coast Rebuilding, Women Build First Families Building Homes Across America, Home Builders Blitz and Women Build How-To Clinics.

Habitat Facts

 

• Habitat was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.
• More than 200,000 houses built worldwide.
•  In 80 countries around the world.
• Habitat Affiliates are in every state in the United States.
• Approximately one-third of Habitat houses are built in the United States.
• Over 2,000 Affiliates worldwide (over 1,500 U.S. affiliates, over 500 International affiliates and 35 South Carolina affiliates).
• Over 600 Campus Chapters; 6 in South Carolina.
• Average cost to build a U.S. Habitat home is $35,237, excluding land and permits (1998).
• Average selling price for a U.S. Habitat home is $41,285.
• Average U.S. Habitat home has a market value of $64,894.
• Average three-bedroom U.S. Habitat home is 1,100 square feet.
• Average mortgage is 20 years.
• Average combined payment for a three-bedroom home is $320.
• Average income for "ability to pay criteria" is a minimum of $12,835 and a maximum of $22,586.
• Homeowners have a foreclosure rate of less than 1%.
• Fastest Habitat home ever built was in Shelby County, Alabama in 3 hours, 26 minutes, 34  seconds.
• Roughly 4,876 16-penny nails are used to build a Habitat house.
• About 650 pieces of lumber are used to build a Habitat two-bedroom home.
• About 40 gallons of paint are used on a Habitat house.
• Habitat for Humanity ranked #19 in the U.S. in 1999 for house closings (Builder Magazine).
• Habitat for Humanity ranked #1 lowest cost builder in the U.S. (Professional Builder).
• Habitat for Humanity is listed in Worth Magazine’s “America’s 100 Best Charities”.

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