Habitat for Humanity is a Christian housing ministry, which seeks to eliminate poverty housing from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience. Habitat homes provide simple, decent shelter and are typically 1,000 square feet, slab construction with three bedrooms and one bath. The current cost of a Habitat home is around $80,000.00. A Habitat home is sold to a partner family with an interest free twenty or twenty-five year mortgage which includes a second mortgage that is eliminated over the course of the first ten years of home ownership. The contract also contains a "right of first refusal" which requires the owner to give Habitat the first right to purchase the home should the owner decide to sell.

TO QUALIFY FOR A HABITAT HOME THE APPLICANT MUST:

•  Have a need for housing, meaning you presently live with housing conditions that are substandard, overcrowded, in unsafe neighborhoods or too high cost. You may also not own any property.
•  Have income above 30% but below 60% of the median income for the household size. See chart below.
•  Be willing to become a Partner Family by completing sweat equity (volunteer hours).
•     a. Once approved, an initial 25 hours of sweat equity is required
•     b. Work a total of 400 hours of sweat equity before the process
•         is complete
•  Attend home ownership and maintenance classes.
•  Have enough income to handle house payments, utilities, taxes, food, insurance and other normal expenses.
•  Verify income to equal or exceed three times the monthly house payment.

TO QUALIFY FINANCIALLY, YOUR INCOME NEEDS TO BE BETWEEN THE AMOUNTS LISTED FOR YOUR FAMILY SIZE 

AN APPLICANT CAN BE DENIED AT ANY POINT DURING THE PROCESS. REASONS FOR DENIAL INCLUDE:

Too much income.
Lack of need for adequate shelter because of

• ABILITY TO OBTAIN CONVENTIONAL FINANCING
• FAMILY LIVING IN ADEQUATE HOUSING AT PRESENT.

Lack of ability to pay for and maintain a Habitat home because of:

• NOT ENOUGH INCOME.
• TOO MUCH DEBT AS DETERMINED BY HABITAT'S CHECK QF CREDIT.
• HISTORY OF INABILITY TO MEET FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.

Lack of willingness to partner with Habitat by:

• NOT CQMPLETING SWEAT EQUITY HOURS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
• NOT ATTENDING FINANCIAL COUNSELING OR HQME MANAGEMENT CLASSES.
• GIVING FALSE OR INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION OR DURING THE INTERVIEWS
• BEING LISTED ON THE SEXUAL PREDATOR REGISTRATION

You may pick up forms from the office or download and print the application.