Step 1: Determining Need

1. Your current housing situation must be inadequate and adequate housing cannot be acquired through current conventional means.  Lack of adequate housing may include problems with the present structure, electrical, gas, water, sewage, service systems, bathroom(s), kitchen, heating system, or failure to meet city or county property maintenance standards.  The number of persons and ages and sex of your household members will also be taken into consideration as a test for adequacy. 

Total income must not exceed the range of the following HUD income limits:

2. The percentage of your monthly income you currently spend on housing will also be considered to determine need.  Since you will actually be buying the home from Habitat, you must demonstrate that you can pay the monthly mortgage payment.  This payment will include the mortgage payment, real estate taxes and insurance costs, which will be escrowed.
3. You must reside in Rice County.
4. If you are selected, you must realize that the home is not a gift, therefore, you must demonstrate your ability to make the monthly mortgage payments, which will include monthly payments for taxes and insurance, without jeopardizing your ability to meet all other family financial obligations and living expenses.  Generally, this will mean that a family must have a steady monthly income equal to at least four times, but not more than eight times, the anticipated monthly mortgage payment. 

5. A family selected for a Habitat home must pay closing costs.   These costs include one year of property insurance and all other costs associated with closing a mortgage, such as any legal fees, mortgage tax, and filing fees.  The amount you need generally totals about 1% of the anticipated mortgage amount.
6. You must be willing to assist (sweat equity) in the construction of your own home.  This will mean you must accomplish at least 350 hours of sweat equity towards your home.  These hours may include family members.

After reading the criteria to qualify for a Habitat house,  and you feel you would qualify, then you MUST complete the application in full.  There are several things you need to send with the application:

1. Complete and send these documents:
1.   Authorization for Release of Financial Information
2.   Authorization for Release of Employment Information
3.   Authorization to run a Credit check
2. Make complete copies of your two most recent Federal tax forms and enclose them.  This must be your Federal and State taxes.  Also include copies of any W-2’s along with the tax forms.
3. Provide copies of at least three months of bank statements, including any savings    accounts you may have.
4. Provide the name and address of all banks with which you do business, as well as account numbers. This would include savings accounts, checking accounts, loans, etc.  If you do not bank anywhere, include the name of someone who will verify your credit history.  This person could be a former or current landlord, lender, or a business who knows that you are financially responsible.
5. Provide copies of your last three pay-stubs.  If you do not have the pay-stub copies, then please include a letter from your employer stating your hourly or annual wage. (this includes all household members working).
    
   

Since you will actually be buying the home from Habitat, you must demonstrate that you can pay the monthly mortgage payment. This payment will include, the mortgage payment, real estate taxes, and insurance costs, which will be escrowed. The Family Selection Committee will help you determine if this payment will jeopardize your ability to meet all your other family financial obligations and expenses. The Committee will help to develop a budget to determine whether the family is eligible and capable of meeting such payments.

Though its building efforts, Habitat breaks down barriers and forms partnerships among people from all walks of life.

It is often said that relationships are the most important thing Habitat builds.

To become a "Partner Family", you must be willing to contribute 350 hours of sweat equity towards the construction of your Habitat home or towards a future Habitat house. Friends and relatives may also contribute 150 hours towards this total on your behalf.

You are responsible for the maintenance and repair of the house form the time you move into the house.

The Family Support Committee will maintain an on-going relationship with you after you move into the home. This includes financial counseling and household maintenance education.

If you can show us your need, ability to pay, and willingness to work as a partner, then consider applying for a Habitat home!

Simply fill out the application form here. Applications are considered annually for each house built in which a "Partner Family" is selected. This selection process is usually started in January. If you submitted an application for the last year, we encourage you to resubmit an application.

Contact Us Applications are accepted only at certain times of the year. Request that you are put on the mailing list.

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