Becoming a Homeowner

What Does It Take….

To Become a Habitat for Humanity Homeowner

Three things are required to own a Habitat for Humanity home:

• Need -- We look for families who are living in inadequate housing and who don't have the financial resources to buy a home without some help.
  
  
• Ability to Pay – We look for families who have a stable income, either from employment or from other legitimate sources, who have an acceptable credit history, and who don't have excessive debt. Habitat families have incomes that are between 30% and 60% of the HUD median income guidelines for the Lawrence area, adjusted for family size.
  
  
• Willingness to Partner – We look for families who are willing to work hard to build their own home and also help build homes for other Habitat families, who are responsible neighbors, and who have shown that they are financially responsible by making regular payments to landlords, utility companies, and other creditors. We select families who have made this area their permanent home, and who have lived and/or worked in Douglas or Jefferson Counties for at least one year.

What Do You Mean by “Partner”?

Building a home with Habitat for Humanity is a partnership. Habitat makes a mortgage loan to the homeowners – but we're not like the typical mortgage lender. Our home loans are interest-free, and our homeowners pay only for the cost of construction because labor is donated by volunteers.

When a family is selected to become a Habitat homeowner, a Family Partner is also selected to become a friend who will guide you through the process of learning to build your house and then take care of it. The hours that you spend building your house, and helping other families build theirs, is what we call “sweat equity.” Each adult family member is required to work at least 225 hours of sweat equity with Habitat.

We also ask Habitat families to participate in publicity. Because we rely heavily on donations to pay for building materials, our families play a vital role in telling the Habitat story to the community.

Being a partner also means being faithful in paying the mortgage payments every month. Without those payments from every family, Habitat won't have enough money to build more houses for other families who need them.

Is Habitat for Humanity a Religious Organization?

Habitat is an ecumenical Christian organization, but we partner with people of all faiths, and also with people who are not affiliated with any religion. It's true that many religious groups help with building Habitat houses, but we don't ask applicants to tell us anything about their religious beliefs.

Who Can Apply for a Habitat House?

Habitat for Humanity is for people who need a better place to live, and who are willing and able to take on the responsibility of home ownership. Habitat is a “hand up,” not a “hand out.”

When homeowner applications are reviewed by the Family Selection committee, we use the selection criteria in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, national origin, family status or marital status, or because all or part of income is derived from any public assistance program.

What If I Can't Do Physical Labor?

If a Habitat homeowner has physical limitations, Habitat will work with the person to identify other tasks that can be done to count toward the sweat equity requirement.

What Does a Habitat House Cost?

The Habitat mortgage is a zero-interest loan that includes only the cost of the house, not the donated labor. Monthly mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance, are often less than rental payments for a house. Mortgage terms may be adjusted so that a family is not required to pay more than 25 percent of gross income for the monthly house payment. Payment of $1,000 in closing costs is required when the house is completed.

How Do I Get Started?

The Lawrence Habitat for Humanity Family Selection Committee holds two public meetings each year, usually in late February and early September, to explain our program and requirements prior to accepting applications. Attendance at this meeting is expected of all applicants. However, if this is not possible because of circumstances beyond your control, you will need to contact FamilySelection@LawrenceHabitat.org or call 785-832-0777 to get the necessary information and application forms.

You will have approximately two weeks to gather the required information and complete the application form. Applicants who meet our income guidelines and pass reference checks and a credit history review will be interviewed in their homes by members of the Family Selection Committee.

Families who applied in the past but were not selected are invited to apply again.

The application information is kept strictly confidential, and the selection process takes about three months.

What If I Have More Questions?

For upcoming application dates and details of the process, or for any other questions you might have, please contact FamilySelection@LawrenceHabitat.org or call 785-832-0777.