If your family is in need of affordable safe housing, we would love to help you.
Please read our qualifications below before applying for housing help to ensure you qualify.
Examples of program qualifications
- Are You Ready To Provide A Safe, Decent, Affordable Home For Your Family?
- Are you unable to obtain a conventional home loan?
- Is your current home overpriced, overcrowded or in disrepair?
- Are you willing to help us build your new home?
- Are you able to make monthly mortgage and escrow payments?
- Are you a veteran, elderly and/or disabled?
- If You Meet Any of This Criteria or Have Any Questions, Contact Us Today For More Information.
FAQ about affordable housing
In general, it’s housing for which the occupant(s) pay no more than 30 percent of their income for gross housing costs, including utilities.
1
There Must Be A Demonstrated Need In Order To Qualify For A Habitat Home
Need is determined by a family’s current living conditions.
Some examples of need are outline below (this list is not all-inclusive).
- visible holes or large cracks
- leaks, hazardous/toxic materials
- electrical problems
- plumbing problems
- appliancesnot working
2
Ability to Pay
Ability to pay is determined by information provided and collected during the application process.
Information on the paper application, pay stubs, benefit statements, previously filed federal tax returns, and credit reports are examples of the resources used to determine this ability.
APPLICANTS MUST HAVE:
- a steady, reliable source of income and demonstrate financial responsibility (including state and/or federal aid)
- the ability to pay a monthly house payment at approximately 25% of gross monthly income (taxes and insurance included)
- the ability to pay projected monthly utilities (electric/gas & water/sewer)
- bankruptcy restrictions may apply, check with your local affiliate
- do NOT have outstanding collections, liens or judgments that cannot reasonably be paid by the completion of the home build
- qualifications vary by individual affiliate
3
Proof of Residency
All applicants must provide documentation of residency and eligibility to work in the US.
One of the following documents is accepted as proof of both residency and eligibility:
US Passport
Permanent Resident Card
Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
Foreign Passport with temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa
Unexpired Employment Authorization Document with a Photo ID (Form I-766)
Unexpired Foreign Passport with Form I-94
Passport from Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshall Islands with Form I-94 or Form I-94A indicating nonimmigrant admission under the Compact of Free Association Between the United States and the FSM or RMI.
If one of the above cannot be provided, one document from each category below is required:
- Driver’s License
- Federal, State, or Local Government ID Card
- Voter’s Registration Card
- School ID card with a photograph
- Native American tribal document
- U.S. Military identification card/ Military Dependents ID card
- U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
- Canadian Driver’s License
4
Willingness to Partner
A partner family must be willing to complete “sweat-equity” hours.
“Sweat-equity” is when a partner family takes part in building their own home and other Habitat homes and may include activities such as clearing the lot, painting, helping with construction, working in the Habitat office, or other approved activities.
- Hours and methods of completion of “Sweat-equity” hours vary by affiliate.
- A portion of the sweat equity hours can be completed by family and friends.
- All of the hours must be completed before the partner family can purchase the home.
In addition, the partner family must also be willing to attend home buyer education classes.