Press Release

January 10, 2007

Charleston, S.C. – The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina has awarded a grant totaling $7,000 to Charleston-based Humanities Foundation®. Awarded through the Community Foundation’s Open Grants program, the grant will help fund Humanities Foundation’s ShelterNet program, which provides emergency financial assistance to families and individuals who are in immediate danger of eviction from their homes or loss of essential utility service.

The grant, which will help ShelterNet assist households with their rent, mortgage or utility bills, addresses the increasing need for assistance, caused in part by recent unprecedented increases in natural gas and electric costs. In 2006, ShelterNet was able to assist a total of 455 Lowcountry households temporarily struggling to maintain basic housing needs.

Coastal Community Foundation began its Open Grants program in 1985 to distribute grants to nonprofit organizations in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. The ultimate goal of the program is to improve the quality of life in those counties by supporting the network of nonprofits that serve the community, generally providing support in six program areas: arts, education, environment, health, human needs and neighborhood/community development.

Since its founding in 1992, Humanities Foundation® has been a leader in addressing the affordable housing crisis. In addition to its primary mission to develop affordable housing it also provides a range of services for residents, and in the community, that serve to alleviate problems associated with homelessness and affordable housing. The Humanities Foundation focuses its efforts in four major areas – housing development, by serving as a nonprofit developer; emergency financial assistance for housing needs; education and awareness; and technical assistance to those seeking guidance in developing affordable housing. For more information or to make a donation to ShelterNet, please visit the Humanities Foundation Web site at www.humanitiesfoundation.org.