In early 1989 five parishioners and the rector from St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church invited other local congregations to a discussion on forming a chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Chatham County. Sixty-five individuals showed up at the Pittsboro Public Library - and Chatham Habitat for Humanity (CHFH) was launched. Shortly after, the program received Official Affiliation with Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit Christian housing ministry that works to eliminate poverty housing throughout the world. It took over a year to organize, plan, raise funds, and recruit volunteers before ground (or more accurately, red clay) was broken for the first house on February 3, 1990. At a dedication on September 16 of that same year the first Chatham Habitat homeowner partners received the keys to their new house.

     A veteran of those early days commented: "The air was charged with excitement and there were dreams of the wonderful things those dedicated volunteers were planning to do. There was confidence and faith that God would help them see it through."

     In the intervening years, CHFH has added staff, opened two resale stores (Home Store and Home Store Too), constructed a permanent location for the resale business and administrative offices and, most importantly, has partnered with sixty-seven families to build and purchase homes.