In need of safe, affordable housing

What this need looks like will vary from community to community, but applicants may be dealing with substandard housing that is poorly built, damaged or inadequate; rent or mortgage that’s greater than 30% of their gross monthly income; unhealthy living conditions such as homes with mold and asthma triggers; or a home that is inaccessible for their disabilities.

Low- to moderate-income

For U.S. applicants, household income must not exceed 60% of the area median income, which is defined annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. You can find the median income of your area and for your family size using the query tool from HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research.

Willing to partner with Habitat

Once selected, homebuyers must partner with Habitat throughout the process. This partnership includes performing “sweat equity,” or helping to build their own home or the homes of others in our homeownership program. Sweat equity can also include taking homeownership classes or performing volunteer work in a Habitat ReStore.

Homebuyers also participate in homeowner education classes, which provide a mix of hands-on and classroom learning. The courses cover home maintenance and repairs as well as saving, managing a mortgage, and maintaining personal finances. Each class is crafted to help empower participants to be successful homeowners.

Able and willing to pay an affordable mortgage

Habitat ensures that the monthly mortgage payments do not exceed 30% of the homebuyer’s gross monthly income at closing. Mortgage payments are cycled back into the community to help build additional Habitat houses.