HomeAboutOur History

Our History

Creating and restoring dreams since 1888…

We’re older than your average nonprofit… at least by a century. From starting out with just TWO members of the Charleston community, Origin SC has grown to more than 40 employees and five divisions providing services in the Tri-County area, statewide, and even across the United States!


1888: On January 16, 1888, the Associated Charities Society  forms to help find and allocate funds and relief to those in need in Charleston. Following the successful models of charities in cities such as New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, the associated charities continue to function well through the Roaring Twenties. From 1910 to 1920, the Society resides at historic 87 Broad Street in downtown Charleston, SC (pictured on the right).


1955: The Associated Charities of Charleston dissolves and sells its building on the corner of Montague Street and Ashley Avenue. It distributes its funds to various charities of Charleston, including its future home of The Family Service Agency. On Feb. 25, it becomes an incorporated organization.


1959: The Family Service Agency, then located at 13 Wentworth Street (pictured on the right), changes its name to Family Services of Charleston. The top services at this time include: healthy family relationship programs and alleviating welfare conditions.


1979: Family Services is noted by this time for its financial coaching in its Consumer Credit Counseling Services program. (pictured on right: Post & Courier, Nov. 20, 1979)


1994: Family Services changes its official name to Family Services, Inc. By this point, programs include family counseling and family financial management services.


2003: Family Services, Inc. opens its housing counseling division, the Homeownership Resource Center, to provide homebuyer education and foreclosure prevention services.


2010: In response to the “Great Recession,” Family Services, Inc.’s National Foreclosure Mitigation Council (NFMC) program becomes the second largest provider of foreclosure prevention counseling in the United States.


2012: Family Services, Inc. establishes One Less Homeless Vet program to help recently-housed Veterans with household necessities.


2013: The nonprofit celebrates its 125th Anniversary! Staff and clients commemorate the special occasion at a Charleston RiverDogs baseball game. Executive Director David A. Geer, III throws out the first pitch (pictured on the right).


2016: Family Services, Inc. changes its name! On July 6th, the organization becomes Family Services, Inc. DBA Origin SC. The name Origin SC reflects the many years the organization has been in existence, as one of the original nonprofits in the Charleston area, as well as depicts what the organization means for those in need of its services — where the path to financial and housing stability begins. “Your path to home starts here.”

Watch the video here


2018: David A. Geer III, CEO retired in March 2018 after 15 years of growing Family Services, Inc. from a small struggling local non-profit to a thriving multi-service organization serving clients throughout the state of South Carolina.


2019: Origin SC purchases a new building and moves into a new location at 8084 Rivers Avenue North Charleston, SC 29406. The new building was purchased to provide a home for Family Service, Inc. DBA Origin SC and subsidiaries.

 

 

 

 

 


2020: In response to the COVID 19 Pandemic, Origin accomplished the transition to provide services virtually for most division services