Pickens County Habitat for Humanity

Pickens County Habitat for Humanity aims to combat the affordable housing crisis by partnering with low-to-moderate income families in need to build safe, decent, and affordable homes that create lasting financial security for first-time homeowners. PCHFH does this by selling Habitat homes "at cost" with 0% interest to partnering families who commit 200 hours of sweat-equity toward their home and complete financial-literacy classes. With every affordable home and partnering-family, less substandard units are occupied and more families are able to build wealth and equity in our community. PCHFH's ultimate goal is to build affordable homes for every individual and family in need so that more families are financially-secure for themselves and for future generations.

Pickens County Habitat for Humanity aims to partner with three to four individuals each year to build affordable and decent homes. Housing applications are available and provided to all those who request throughout each year. If candidates qualify on the basis of income (50-80% AMI), they are processed and visited by the Family Selection Committee of PCHFH. Those who qualify through this step in the process are then approved for a home by the Board of Directors. To pay for the construction cost of each of these homes, PCHFH fundraises through grant awards from private foundations, individual solicitations, and in-kind donations of materials. PCHFH intends to make a more direct approach at finding families in need of safe, decent, and affordable housing by advertising Habitat for Humanity's program at several places of employment in Pickens County.

PCHFH continuously sends housing applications to all those who request it via phone or otherwise. The organization relies on the highly-involved Family Selection Committee's process to select a viable candidate for homeownership. The checks and balances of this committee and the Board of Directors helps to ensure families are selected fairly, based on level of need and willingness to partner.

PCHFH has partnered with 111 families in its 40 year tenure to make homeowners out of renters or technically-homeless individuals, forever changing the financial landscape of countless individuals and their children. In 1981 when PCHFH was founded, the starting treasury stood at $500. Now, PCHFH builds three to four $100,000 homes each year, meeting the needs of many deserving people in Pickens County thanks to team leadership and a supportive community. PCHFH has partnered with the student chapter of Habitat for Humanity at Clemson University for nearly 30 years, building a Habitat home on campus during Homecoming every year - the only affiliate in the nation to hold such a partnership. PCHFH has partnered with Clemson University Athletics to build a home with student-athletes and has also built a home with the help of high school students. PCHFH continues to seek out unique and worthwhile partnerships to engage the greater community in the conversation surrounding affordable housing, all the while continuing our mission to build decent shelter for those in need.