On the night of September 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo struck the low-country of South Carolina, causing widespread damage to the homes of rich and poor alike. Hibben United Methodist Church became the disaster response depot and coordination site for the East Cooper area. Within days, hundreds of volunteers arrived from around the country, along with food, clothing, and building supplies. A massive volunteer effort developed, and by the time the South Carolina Annual Conference took over the operation, almost 300 homes had been temporarily repaired. In June of 1991, the Church granted approval for the Relief Center to remain open to address housing problems in the rural areas of Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester Counties. Our statistics are miraculous, with more than 2000 homes repaired, including the construction of 66 new homes.

During the recovery process, we became aware of the vast level of poverty, which existed in the rural areas of our State long before the storm. It is not uncommon to find homes, which are best described as shacks, lacking indoor facilities, and in many cases, electricity. The South Carolina Housing Authority in their latest survey, estimates that 23% of homes in the State are substandard. However, in rural areas the figures are significantly higher.  A deeper problem, however, is not so much the deplorable living conditions, but the abject consequences of poverty. Families living in such conditions are largely unaware of helping systems available to them, and of community assistance which would enable them to change their situation. 

And their needs are great...