Humanities Foundation

For thirty years, Humanities Foundation has made a significant impact in the communities it serves by building more than 2,500 apartments for low- to moderate-income individuals and families. The organization specializes in environmentally sustainable housing that fits into the fabric of each neighborhood. Our apartment communities are located in South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Louisiana. In 1995, Humanities Foundation created ShelterNet to provide emergency housing assistance—and now has helped nearly people avoid eviction or loss of essential utility services. The fund pays one-time costs such as rental/utility deposits, overdue rent, or mortgage payments. ShelterNet receives referrals for financial assistance from over forty community partners, including social services and mental health agencies, programs for the aging, hospitals, schools, churches, and other nonprofit organizations. During COVID-19, ShelterNet accessed more than in funding through the Cares Act to assist people who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, and it continues to help link available resources to residents and the wider community. Humanities Foundation responded to persistent inequity and food insecurity by establishing Marketplace, a free food delivery program. Marketplace began in 2014 and has since joined together with over forty-five community partners, expanding from Humanities Foundation communities to surrounding neighborhoods. Over eleven million pounds of perishable and nonperishable food has been distributed to communities throughout South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. In addition to ShelterNet and Marketplace, Humanities Foundation offers resident services through an array of strategic partnerships. Some of the additional services include health screenings and flu shots, health education and telemedicine, transportation, after-school and summer programs, and community gardens.