About Dorchester Habitat
Our Mission:
Putting God’s love into action by bringing people together building homes and hope.
Our Vision:
Transforming Dorchester County One Home at a Time
Habitat for Humanity International’s Mission & Vision:
“Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.”
“A world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
Habitat’s Beginning
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian ministry founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. The Fuller’s had a vision of building simple, decent houses for low-income families in their community using volunteer labor and donations, and requiring repayment only of the cost of the materials used, no interest was charged.
Several years later in 1984 Millard recruited one of Habitat’s most famous volunteers- President Jimmy Carter. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were very involved with Habitat, giving their time, talent and treasure. They developed the Jimmy Carter Work Project, which was an annual week-long effort of building Habitat houses all over the world.
To date, Habitat for Humanity International operates in nearly 1,400 communities across the U.S. and over 70 countries around the world. Each local Habitat Organization is called an affiliate, which acts in partnership with and on behalf of Habitat International.
Five Habitat affiliates that make up the greater Charleston area, called Trident Habitat for Humanity: Charleston Habitat, Sea Island Habitat, East Cooper Habitat, Berkeley Habitat and Dorchester Habitat.
Dorchester Habitat was founded in 1993, and since then has completed 70 homes in Dorchester County. It takes roughly 2,000 volunteer hours and nearly $100,000 to complete each home. We are fortunate to keep our construction costs at a minimum by utilizing mostly volunteer labor. The only services that cannot be performed by volunteers are the electrical, HVAC and plumbing.
Our homes are sold to those in need, who have gone through a strenuous pre-qualification process, and who will pay a 30-year, interest free mortgage back to Dorchester Habitat. Payments include escrows for homeowners insurance, property taxes and termite bonds. Average monthly payments of $650, and homeowners pay up to $2,500 in closing costs.
Habitat homes are affordable for low-wealth families who may not have otherwise qualified for a home with a conventional mortgage.
