Habitat for Humanity, DeKalb County Georgia
 

To apply for a home

Habitat for Humanity – DeKalb is a home ownership program that builds homes in partnership with people in need. Those interested in partnering with Habitat for Humanity must meet the qualifications, apply to attend a New Home Orientation Meeting, complete an application process, be accepted for the program, and join with Habitat for Humanity to build the house. Habitat for Humanity will sell the home at cost to the homeowner with a no interest loan. The homeowner pays for the home with monthly payments that include the mortgage, home insurance, and taxes over the life of the loan, typically 20-30 years. Total payments are typically less than the homeowner has previously paid in rent.

New Home Orientation Meetings are scheduled periodically. They are announced several months prior to the meeting on this website, in local newspapers and through local churches and community organizations.  At this time no meeting has been scheduled for 2008.  We are currently NOT accepting applications.  

Requirements for Owning a Habitat for Humanity – DeKalb, Inc. Home:
To be eligible to become a Habitat for Humanity – DeKalb Partner Family, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Live in DeKalb County for a minimum of 12 months 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 400 “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.

2008 Income limits are defined as follows:

Year - 2008 Guidelines

Family Size

Household Income Between

One

$14,940-$24,900

Two

$17,100-$28,500

Three

$19,230-$32,050

Four

$21,360-$35,600

Five

$23,070-$38,450

Six

$24,780-$41,300

Seven

$26,490-$44,150

Eight

$28,200-$47,000

To be eligible to become a Habitat for Humanity – DeKalb Partner Family, you must also demonstrate the following:

  1. 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
  2. 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, pest control, and any closing costs, as well as cover current credit obligations.
    • Your credit report and current debts are satisfactory
  3. 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.

 


New Homeowner Orientation
All potential homeowners must attend a New Homeowner Orientation meeting.  At this time  potential homeowners receive information about the Habitat program, fill out an application and meet with a Habitat counselor to review their qualifications for homeownership.   Potential homeowners must fill out a pre-qualification form before being invited to the New Homeowner Orientation meeting.   The pre-qualification forms will be available on this web site several weeks prior to the Orientation meeting.