Aiken County Habitat for Humanity has been providing quality, affordable housing for local families with low incomes for more than 25 years.
The organization built its first house in 1989 and erected its 25th in 1997.
The 50th went up in 2004, and the 75th was completed in 2009.
This year, the 100th house will be built.
That milestone is a sign of Habitat for Humanity's "success in pulling together people, businesses, churches, government and social service agencies to work together to accomplish something important," said the organization's executive director, Richard Church. "It shows that our paradigm is working. It also shows that we are committed to serving the people of Aiken County and that we are committed to continuing to serve."
Ground was broken on the 98th house, a Women Build project, in February, and Church expects three more residences to be constructed before the end of 2015, raising the total to 101.
With the 100th, Habitat won't begin the process with major financial sponsors. Instead, the organization is depending on a variety of individuals, groups, companies and churches in the Aiken area to pitch in and donate money, volunteer hours and/or construction materials.
Last week, Habitat launched the 100th Home Community Build Campaign.
The theme of the effort is Let's Build It Together! Its goal is to raise $100,000 to support the 100th house's construction and Habitat's ongoing mission in Aiken County.
Dr. Aaron Washington II, Habitat board president, and Carolyn Beeler are co-chairpeople of the campaign committee.
"We want everybody to be involved in this 100th house exercise," Church said. "The campaign itself will be the home's sponsor."
The site for the 100th house and the family that will live there after its construction is completed haven't been finalized yet, but they will be announced at a later date.
"When everybody thinks about Habitat, they think about houses," Church said. "But it's really about the families who are taken out of substandard living conditions that they didn't really see an exit from. We put them in a homeownership arrangement that opens up the doors to their future and gives them security. It's something they can enjoy year after year."
The typical Habitat house locally is a 1,150-square-foot structure with a design that includes three bedrooms and 1½ baths.
One or more members of the family for which it is being built contribute volunteer "sweat equity" hours to Habitat and/or the construction project.
The family receives an interest-free mortgage on the home.
The average duration of a Habitat mortgage is 25 years, and the average amount is $75,000, which represents the cost of construction and the land. The monthly payment, which includes escrow for insurance and taxes, is around $380.
"We have become a major player in community development and in addressing the problem of the lack of availability of affordable homes for low-income families in Aiken County," said Church, who has been Habitat's executive director since 1998.
For more information about the 100th Home Campaign, call 803-642-9295 or visit www.habitataiken.org.
Habitat's administrative office and ReStore are at 1026 Park Ave. S.E.
Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the newspaper since January 2013.