Family Selection Criteria
Habitat for Humanity utilizes labor and private donations to build low cost homes to be sold at no profit and no interest to families who are willing to partner with Habitat and who could not otherwise afford a home. Harbor Habitat homes cost $75,000, and they are sold with 15-or 20-year mortgages at zero percent interest.
Please read the following items to see if you have an interest in our ministry, if you meet our general guidelines:
1. Need for Adequate Shelter: to qualify, you must have a housing need such as overcrowding,
unsafe or unsanitary conditions, poor plumbing or heating, leaking roof or unreasonably high rent.
2. Ability to Pay: To quality you must have reliable income within the guidelines set up by Habitat. All income sources and debts are considered and a credit check (with your permission) will be done. Qualifying income ranges are as follows
Household Size |
1 Member |
2 Members |
3 Members |
4 Members |
5 Members |
Minimum Annual Income |
$11600 |
$13250 |
$14900 |
$16550 |
$17850 |
Maximum Annual Income |
$19300 |
$22050 |
$24800 |
$27550 |
$29,750 |
3. Willingness to Partner: To qualify, you must complete 300 hours of “sweat equity” per adult family member in the household. All sweat equity hours (see sweat equity sheet) are completed before the family moves in. In additions, your partnership continues by attending Habitat meetings and workshops on homeownership. You are also encouraged to serve on committees, help in fundraising and work in other ways to help Habitat, all of which can be mutually rewarding.
Application forms are available at Harbor Habitat for Humanity office on Main Street in Benton Harbor or are completed at a scheduled Orientation Session. In order to complete the form in its entirety, you will need the following data:
- Social Security Cards for all household family members
- Landord’s address and telephone numbers
- Average monthly utility bills
- Addresses and contact numbers of present and previous employers (past 2 years), for each adult member of your household
- Creditors’ names, monthly payment amounts, and unpaid balances (car, alimony, child support, medical bills, etc)
If you meet all requirements but are not selected during this enrollment period, we will keep your application on file and consider you for future builds. In addition, Harbor Habitat is continually looking for volunteers to help build homes; please contact us if this opportunity to partner and benefit the community fulfills your needs.
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