Habitat for Humanity on Hilton Head

• Merged: July 1, 2023
• Office: Bluffton
• Homebuyers: earn sweat equity

Habitat for Humanity on Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head has had a Habitat for Humanity for decades, and it is no longer a separate organization. On July 1, 2023, Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity and Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity merged to become Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry. Brenda Dooley, who had led the Hilton Head affiliate, became CEO of the combined group. It serves Beaufort and Jasper Counties, and its main office is at 21 Brendan Lane in Bluffton, not on the island. There is also an office at 701 Carteret Street in Beaufort. The affiliate lists a build on Evelina Road on Hilton Head as a current project.

The local Habitat says it has put 195 families into homes since 1990, with a foreclosure rate under 2 percent.

Buying a Habitat Home

Habitat homes are sold, not given away. Buyers take out a no-interest, no-profit mortgage with payments set to be affordable, pay about $3,000 in closing costs and put in “sweat equity” working on the build site alongside volunteers; friends, family, coworkers and church members can help log the hours.

To apply, you must be a legal U.S. resident who has lived or worked in Beaufort or Jasper County for at least six months, have an income up to 80 percent of area median income with a minimum of $40,000, and show you can repay the mortgage. The steps:

• Attend a New Family Orientation Meeting during an open application period.

• Submit the application and documents. If you qualify, a home visit follows.

• The Family Selection Team recommends families and the board approves or denies.

• Approved families get a Family Support Partner and begin earning sweat equity.

Call the Bluffton office at (843) 681-5864 to ask when the next application period opens.

The Habitat ReStore

Sales at the ReStore, a home-improvement thrift store, help pay for the houses. The nearest one is the Habitat ReStore in Bluffton at 18 Plantation Park Drive, (843) 757-9995, a short drive off the island. There is no ReStore on Hilton Head itself. Habitat also takes car donations.

Volunteering With Habitat

Construction volunteers need no experience, since Habitat provides training and supervision. There are other jobs too:

• Family Selection Team: volunteers visit applicant families in pairs to check eligibility.

• Family Support Partners: each partner family has a volunteer who guides them after they are accepted.

• Fundraising: host an event, sponsor a house or join a Women Build or Faith Build. House Parties for Homes is the affiliate’s at-home fundraising option.

• Special events: help plan and run fundraisers, including the Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day.

Call (843) 681-5864 or email info@lowcountryhabitat.org to start.

Giving to Habitat

Habitat takes monthly gifts, planned gifts, home sponsorships, gifts in honor or memory of someone, car donations and house parties for homes. Donors can also give through a fund at the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.