Do you qualify for a Habitat home?
Many people dream of home ownership. The positive impact of owning your own home is tremendous. Finding affordable housing that is safe is a challenge for many homeowners. Haywood Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to provide decent shelter for God’s people in need. Our program is not a giveaway program.
Each house we build is SOLD to our partners with an affordable mortgage. Additionally, each homeowner listed on the deed is required to invest 200 hours of “sweat equity” into the construction of their home. We sell the house at our cost so that normal monthly payments are kept affordable. This gives people an opportunity to be a homeowner, usually for the first time.
If you believe you qualify after reading the information below, click here for information about the application process and a schedule of upcoming information sessions.
Habitat Guidelines
All applicants must be a resident of Haywood County at the time of application and must have been a resident of North Carolina for a minimum of 12 months. Applicants cannot be on the sexual offender registry. A criminal background check is conducted for all applicants.
Haywood Habitat for Humanity’s Board of Directors, based upon the recommendation of the Homeowner Selection Committee, selects our Partner Homeowners. The decision is based on the following criteria:
- Need - Applicants must be unable to qualify for a conventional bank loan, and their current housing must be inadequate (unsafe, overcrowded, unsanitary, unaffordable, unsafe neighborhood, or inaccessible). As part of the application process, the Homeowner Selection Committee will conduct an interview with the applicants.
- Ability to Pay - Applicants must have a steady source of verifiable, legal income, and earn 60%-80% of the county’s median income based on family size. (See current qualifying income guidelines below.) The monthly mortgage payment cannot exceed 30% of the homeowner’s gross income, so as to not overburden the homeowner with a housing cost that exceeds their budget.
- Willingness to Partner - Each applicant that will be listed on the deed must invest 200 hours of “sweat equity” in the construction of their home. All applicants are required to attend Habitat home ownership education classes.
Current Qualifying Income Guidelines
| Family Size | Annual Income Range | Monthly Income Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $34,650-$46,200 | $2,888-$3,850 |
| 2 | $39,600-$52,800 | $3,300-$4,400 |
| 3 | $44,550-$59,400 | $3,713-$4,950 |
| 4 | $49,500-$66,000 | $4,125-$5,500 |
| 5 | $53,438-$71,250 | $4,453-$5,938 |
| 6 | $57,413-$76,550 | $4,784-$6,379 |
| 7 | $61,350-$81,800 | $5,113-$6,817 |
| 8 | $65,325-$87,100 | $5,444-$7,258 |
We Do Business in Accordance With the Federal Fair Housing Law
It is illegal to Discriminate Against Any Person Because of Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Handicap, Familial Status, or National Origin. Anyone who feels he or she has been discriminated against may file a compliant of housing discrimination:
1-800-669-9777 (Toll Free)
1-800-927-9275 (TTY)
