Historic Charleston Foundation Receives $1.25 Million Grant from Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to Preserve Historic Homes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charleston, SC — October 7, 2025— Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the 2024 Appropriations Acts to support its Common Cause Loan Fund. The federal funding will enable exterior stabilization repairs for seventeen historic homes in Charleston and North Charleston, helping income-qualified residents remain in their homes and preserving the city’s historic fabric.
Over the next several years, HCF will carry out the projects in partnership with the Charleston Redevelopment Corporation (CRC), the City of Charleston’s Department of Housing and Community Development, the City of North Charleston, Operation Home, and the Charleston Area Urban League. On some projects, local businesses and contractors may offer their services at reduced rates to support this important initiative. The majority of properties benefiting from this grant have already been selected through a formal application process.
Launched in 2022, the Common Cause Loan Fund—a joint initiative of HCF and CRC—provides income-qualified homeowners with financial assistance for critical exterior stabilization repairs to their historic houses. These multi-generational families face increasing pressures from rising housing costs and rapid development, yet their homes remain central to Charleston’s historic neighborhoods and cultural identity. The program underscores HCF’s belief that preserving the affordability of existing housing is as essential as creating new housing opportunities.
“We are deeply grateful to the staff in Senator Graham’s Washington, D.C. office for their support in securing these funds,” said Winslow Hastie, HCF President & CEO. “This grant reinforces the importance of protecting Charleston’s historic neighborhoods while ensuring affordability for longtime residents. It represents a significant step forward in our partnership with CRC and our shared mission to combine preservation with housing security.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Liza Holian, Communications Manager lholian@historiccharleston.org
About Historic Charleston Foundation
Founded in 1947, Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for a future for Charleston that honors and protects its people, places, culture, and community. Now in its 78th year, HCF leads innovative preservation efforts through strategic initiatives such as the Edmunds Endangered Property Fund (the nation’s first revolving fund), the Common Cause Loan Fund, the Saving Grace Initiative, and its robust Easement and Covenants Program. The Foundation actively champions public policies that safeguard Charleston’s rich cultural, historical, and architectural legacy, while also addressing resiliency, tourism management, and collaborative partnerships. HCF owns and operates two nationally significant museum houses, the Nathaniel Russell House (c. 1808) and the Aiken-Rhett House (c. 1820), which serve as dynamic centers for preservation, research, interpretation, education, and community engagement, and is headquartered at the c.1820 Capt. James Missroon House.