What are the steps in family selection and how long does it take?

Families are selected in a six week long process.  The following activities take place:

• Prospective applicants attend an orientation where the program is discussed and applications are distributed.
• Applicants submit their applications by the  deadline.
• Habitat staff reviews financial documents to ensure applicants meet income eligibility requirements are met.
• The Family Selection Committee reviews all applications that meet basic eligibility requirements and ranks them according to need.
• Family Selection Committee members interview applicants with most need at their homes.
• Families who are determined to be most eligible are invited to meet with the entire Family Selection Committee.
• The Family Selection Committee approves and ranks approved applicants.
• Family Selection Committee-approved applicants are presented to volunteer Board of Directors for their approval.
• All applicants are notified of final decisions within 30 days of application deadline.

What happens after an applicant is selected for homeownership and before move-in?

The time between family selection and move-in is  12 to 24 months.

• The approved applicant is assigned a volunteer Family Advocate. The Family Advocate provides families with necessary information and helps guide them through this process.
• The family makes a $100 good-faith deposit with Habitat and begins saving for closing costs.
• The family attends a series of family support workshops, including homebuyer education.
• The family members begin putting in sweat equity hours on other Habitat homes and their own home once  construction begins.
• The family selects color and finish options for home.
• When construction is finished, the family purchases their home once they have completed their 500-hour sweat equity requirement and they have saved the $1500 required for closing costs.

How much does a Habitat home cost?

Habitat sells homes to partner families at no-profit.  Families are provided with 0% interest mortgages.  Partner families purchased our most recently-built for $125,000.   Families monthly payments are approximately $500, depending on the length of the loan and the cost of taxes, insurance, and  homeowners dues.

Can a partner family sell a Habitat home if they need to move?

Yes they can.  However, Habitat retains the right to select the purchaser, and  the property is deed restricted to ensure a permanently affordable sales price.  Also the land is held by Habitat and leased for 99 years to the partner family.  These steps ensure that Habitat home provide permanently affordable housing for our community.