Pickens County Habitat for Humanity

Pickens County Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to tackling the affordable housing crisis and empowering low-income families through sustainable homeownership. Our primary mission is to construct safe, decent, and affordable homes where housing costs do not exceed 30% of a household's monthly income. This approach fosters financial stability, enabling families to allocate their resources towards other essential needs such as healthcare, education, and nutrition, without the overwhelming burden of unaffordable housing costs.

However, our goals extend beyond merely constructing affordable housing units. We recognize the importance of building resilient communities through shared goals and human connection. To this end, we actively collaborate with municipalities, non-profit organizations, and faith-based groups to develop comprehensive solutions. These partnerships facilitate the creation of affordable housing neighborhoods, the provision of transitional housing for those in need, and the revitalization of community spaces, fostering a sense of belonging and collective well-being.

Moreover, we are committed to advocating for policies that promote the preservation of affordable housing, optimize land use, and ensure equitable access to housing finance. By addressing these systemic issues, we aim to create a sustainable environment where affordable housing is not only available but also accessible to those who need it most.

Ultimately, our overarching goals are to combat poverty, break the cycles of financial instability, and build thriving, resilient communities where every resident has the opportunity to secure a safe and nurturing living environment. We believe that by providing affordable housing and fostering community development, we can empower individuals and families to break free from the constraints of poverty, enabling them to thrive and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our county and beyond.

Affordable Homeownership: One of the core Pickens County Habitat for Humanity strategies is providing affordable homeownership opportunities through constructing decent, safe homes with housing costs capped at no more than 30% of a family's monthly income. These homes are sold to family partners who meet specific criteria, including need, willingness to partner, and income levels between 45% and 80% of the Area Median Income. This alleviates the burden of unaffordable housing costs which is a major contributor to poverty.

Community Development: Beyond just affordable housing, Pickens County Habitat for Humanity partners with local organizations to develop comprehensive affordable housing neighborhoods with vibrant, accessible community spaces. This fosters resilient communities and a support system to help families thrive.

Advocacy: Pickens County Habitat for Humanity advocates for policies and initiatives that preserve affordable housing stock, promote equitable housing finance access, and optimize land use for affordable development. Addressing these systemic issues is key to sustainably eradicating poverty housing challenges.

Asset Building: Providing affordable homeownership allows low-income families to build equity and assets over time through their housing investment. This can help break generational cycles of poverty.

Holistic Approach: By collaborating with faith groups, nonprofits and municipalities, Habitat takes a holistic approach connecting affordable housing to other vital services like healthcare, education and nutrition to comprehensively address poverty's multi-faceted causes.

Pickens County Habitat for Humanity has robust capabilities that position us effectively to carry out our mission. Our core strength is found in the Board of Directors, comprising professionals from diverse backgrounds like construction, real estate, finance/accounting, business administration, engineering, marketing and communications, education, human resources, and insurance. This board brings a wide range of expertise and perspectives to governance and oversight.

The board, along with our dedicated Family Selection Committee, ensures families are selected fairly and objectively through a rigorous process based on their level of need and willingness to partner with the organization. This multi-layered selection approach enables us to work with families who will greatly benefit from and contribute "sweat equity" toward building their homes and community.

Our proactive outreach continuously distributes housing applications to all inquiries, ensuring wide program accessibility. Broad partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, school districts, colleges, municipalities, and faith organizations amplify our capabilities through leveraging combined resources, expertise and volunteers.

Leadership plays a key role, with our Executive Director bringing relevant experience from AmeriCorps VISTA, an MA in Applied Sociology, and certifications in fundraising. The Construction Coordinator lends 10 years of valuable commercial construction proficiency.

Overall, Pickens County Habitat's strengths lie in our governing board's diverse professional backgrounds, robust family selection process, community partnerships, proactive outreach, and experienced leadership - positioning us with comprehensive operational capabilities to effectively fulfill our affordable housing mission.

Since its founding in 1981 with just $500 in its treasury, Pickens County Habitat for Humanity (PCHFH) has made incredible strides in providing affordable homeownership opportunities. Over the past 40 years, PCHFH has partnered with 117 families, transforming their lives by making homeowners out of renters or those experiencing homelessness.

Today, through strong leadership and community support, PCHFH constructs 3-4 homes annually, meeting the housing needs of deserving families across Pickens County. A standout achievement is PCHFH's 30-year partnership with Clemson University's student Habitat chapter, uniquely building a home on campus during Homecoming every year - the only affiliate with such an initiative nationwide.

PCHFH has also collaborated with Clemson University Athletics to build homes with student-athletes, as well as engaged local high schools, getting students involved in affordable housing efforts. As PCHFH continues seeking impactful community partnerships with municipalities and faith organizations, it maintains an unwavering focus on its core mission of constructing decent, affordable shelter for those in need.

Looking ahead, PCHFH aims to further expand its reach through advocacy efforts, policy initiatives, and diversified funding streams to increase the pace of affordable home construction and revitalization projects in underserved neighborhoods across Pickens County.