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Who Is Habitat For?
Habitat is for people who need a better place to live, and want to help themselves.
Habitat's selection process and criteria are different than other housing programs. Habitat selects people who are trying to take care of their needs without the help of others, but cannot afford simple, decent housing for their family. Habitat wants to help those who find decent affordable housing to be the barrier between dependence and independence, and who are willing and able to take on the responsibility of home ownership.
Who Should Apply?
People who want to own a home may apply if they meet Habitat's income guidelines and have a current housing need.
What Is A Housing Need?
Substandard- a house or an apartment with recurring problems that endanger the health or safety of the residents. Housing may also be considered substandard if there are substantial neighborhood problems.
Overcrowded - an apartment or house that is too small for the size and make up of the family.
Unaffordable - a house or apartment that puts so much financial burden on the family they cannot afford to take care of their other basic needs.
Who Is Selected?
Habitat selects a homeowner for the house that will be built that year. Those who are selected meet these criteria:
- Income Less than 50% of Area Median. The 2006 income limits by household size:
- 1 person - $20,550
- 2 person - $23,500
- 3 person - $26,400
- 4 person - $29,350
- 5 person – $31,700
- 6 person – $34,050
- 7 person - $36,400
- 8 person – $38,750
- Housing Need
- Willingness to work with Habitat & ability to meet the program requirements.
- Ability to pay for and maintain a home.
The committee will look for past and current examples of need, ability to pay and willingness to work.
The House
Simple, decent, new, and energy efficient.
Habitat builds new, simple, decent houses throughout the Portland School District. Habitat homes are built to keep maintenance and heating costs low. The number of bedrooms will depend upon family size. The house includes a stove, refrigerator, light fixtures, and floor coverings. There are no garages. There are also no window coverings, or custom designs. The homeowner can select colors for floor coverings and counter tops.
Partnership & Building the House
Hard work is required, building with volunteers.
Homeowners must work 500 hours with Habitat before they buy their house. It is not easy work: They are responsible for work-site clean-up, installing wall insulation, interior painting, and landscape preparation. They are also challenged to use and learn many other skills as they build their home.
Skills are not required but hard work is expected. Each week future homeowners must find out the work schedule, get to the site and report their hours to the office. If a homeowner has physical limitations, Habitat will work with them to identify tasks which they can do to earn sweat equity.
Being a Habitat homeowner may involve some publicity. The homeowner is often the center of attention among volunteers. Habitat expects their cooperation and participation at ground breaking, dedication services, and interviews with the press, or whenever volunteers are working. At the same time, Habitat respects their privacy and will not embarrass them.
Homeownership
After the required number of sweat equity hours are completed, the house is finished, the homeowner may move into their house. At this time a mortgage will be written up and signed. After the sale is final, homeowners must make monthly house payments, pay their own utilities or any special assessments, and take care of maintenance and repairs. Habitat builds and sells the house; it is not the landlord. Failure to pay could result in foreclosure.
Homeowners may make improvements, build additions, or sell the house if they wish. If the house is sold, the debt to Habitat would be due immediately. If sold in less than five years, Habitat would keep any profit from the sale.
Phone: 517-388-1522
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