Criteria for Portland Habitat Home

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible to purchase a home from Portland Habitat for Humanity.

I.  NEED (AT LEAST ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS MUST BE PRESENT)

A. Inadequate Shelter

1. Inadequate current shelter because of problems with heat, water, electricity, maintenance.

2. Inadequate number and size of bedrooms as determined by the number of persons in the household as well as the age and sex of these household members.  For example: adolescent girls and boys sharing a bedroom or adolescent children sharing a bedroom with very young child or babies would meet this criteria.

3. Unsafe conditions. Lack of access to safe yard, street, and egress from present home.  Physical environment problems such as hazardous or toxic materials.

B. Inadequate Resources

1. Lack of personal resources to buy, rent, or build adequate shelter:

2. Inability to qualify for a VA, FHA, Conventional, or Government loan.

II.  INCOME: ABILITY TO PAY (ALL FIVE REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET)

1. Income within Portland Habitat for Humanity income guidelines, which is 50% of median income, adjusted for family size and updated annually.

2. Record of stable employment and/or other income for one or more years.

3. Enough income to pay house payment, taxes, insurance.  You must also pay for utilities and all maintenance and repairs.

4. Projected housing expense will be less that 30% of gross monthly income.

5. Long-term debt service is less than 42% of gross monthly income, including new house payment (principal, taxes, & insurance)

III. PARTNER WITH HABITAT (YOU MUST BE WILLING TO DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING)

A.      Eagerness:

1. Application requirements readily fulfilled.

2. Willing participant in the home visit.

3. Willingness to participate in Habitat functions.

B.     Acceptance:

1. Of sweat equity and its demand of 500 Hours of “Sweat Equity.”

2. Of Habitat’s house design criteria.

3. Of financial responsibility of home maintenance and care.

4. Of the importance of monthly payments without default.

5. Of Habitat’s need for willing and active partners.