OWN A HOME
Requirements for Owning a Habitat for Humanity DeKalb Home:
To be eligible to become a Habitat for Humanity – DeKalb Partner Family, you must meet the following requirements:
- Live or work in DeKalb County for a minimum of 2 years prior to filing the application
- Be a U.S. Citizen or have Permanent U.S. Resident Status. Habitat does not discriminate because of age, race, religion, sex, handicap status, veteran status, marital status, or national origin.
- Have a steady source of income for two years prior to filing the application for a new home.
- Any bankruptcy filings must have been discharged a minimum of two years prior to filing an application.
- Have a total household income which does not exceed 50% of the median income as identified in the income and family table below.
- You must be willing to partner with Habitat by working a total of 250 “sweat equity” hours by helping to build other Habitat partner homes, attending approved educational classes, workshops, working on approved Habitat projects, etc.
- Partner families understand that they are selected based upon actual need for housing, ability to pay, and willingness to partner with Habitat.
- Partner families understand that they MUST successfully complete a pre-qualification application form and send the form back to the Habitat office. Failure to complete the pre-qualification application form will mean you are not eligible to attend the new home orientation meetings.
To be eligible to become a Habitat for Humanity – DeKalb Partner Family, you must also demonstrate the following:
- Substantial need for housing--Your home must be:
- Substandard problems with areas such as: heat, water, electricity, structure, etc.
- Insufficient space--lacking enough bedrooms for the number of people in the household
- Dangerous--located in unsafe or unsanitary living conditions
- Inadequate--not suited for a family member who has a limitation
- Ability to Pay
- Your income will not stop or decrease by owning a home and has been stable over the last 24 months
- Your income must allow you to make monthly mortgage payments that includes your insurance, taxes, termite inspection, and any closing costs, as well as cover current credit obligations. No more than 30% of your monthly income can go for housing needs.
- Your credit report and current debts are satisfactory. No more than 50% of your monthly income can go toward your debts.
- Willingness to partner with Habitat
- The pre-qualification and new home ownership applications must be completed truthfully, on time, and with all the requested information. Be willing to move within DeKalb County to the location where the new home will be built
- Agree to complete sweat equity hours as defined by Habitat.
- Sweat equity is the partner family's non-cash contribution toward the building of their home. It is recognition of each Partner Family's commitment for their home.
- Show that the family is ready for the responsibilities by being a sprit of partnership.
