What We Do

Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg celebrated its 30^th Anniversary in 2017 – 30 years filled with transforming the lives of 125 Spartanburg families who are deserving and hardworking. Since our 30th anniversary, we have increased the number of families served to 150. Habitat Spartanburg mobilizes volunteers and sponsors to build houses for low-income, deserving families in a pay-it-forward model.

In 2019, Habitat Spartanburg started a Critical Home Repair Program to serve homeowners who struggle to pay for exterior home repairs and safety upgrades, such as wheelchair ramps.

Habitat Spartanburg was founded by a small group of core activists from Spartanburg churches who saw a need for safe and affordable housing – our core tenets today – in Spartanburg.

Habitat Spartanburg began its work on Celestial Street and Winsmith Avenue in the South Converse Street Neighborhood.

Ben DeLuca was the first Executive Director in 1992 and retired in 2006 and passed away in 2012 following a long battle with cancer. Mr. DeLuca was succeeded by David Ellis and then Tom Webster – two men whom remain committed to Habitat.

Lee Close – a community advocate who retired from Milliken after 34 years – took the reins in May 2014 and has led Habitat Spartanburg through a substantial period of growth.

Habitat Spartanburg builds seven new homes annually, with plans increase that capacity.

Habitat's focus is not simply on building homes -- we believe that by elevating expectations in families through providing an opportunity for homeownership, families are more likely to succeed.

We believe in giving families and neighborhoods the tools they need to identify challenges and to use community resources and best practices to create safe places to live and play. Habitat Spartanburg has realized success in neighborhoods like Habitat at Regional -- a neighborhood across Church Street from Spartanburg Medical Center -- and in the Una Habitat Neighborhood -- one of our first neighborhoods. Both communities have successfully formed Neighborhood Associations and are active in their neighborhoods.

One measure of success is those 55 families who have completely paid off their mortgages and own their homes free and clear -- an indicator of long-term financial stability.

The spirit of Habitat is not to rely on hand-outs, but a hand-up to help families -- and neighborhoods -- succeed.