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Getting a Habitat Home

Topic List:

• How does Habitat work?
• What does a Habitat house cost?
• How are partner families selected?

How does it Habitat work?

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit nondenominational Christian organization, which uses volunteers and donations to build or refurbish houses for families who do not qualify for conventional financing.  The families work 400 hours on construction of other families' homes and on the construction of their own home. There is a small down payment of $300 and the cost of building the house with no profit is paid back through a no interest mortgage. The payments are based on the family's income.
     Insurance and taxes are included in the mortgage payments. Each homeowner is responsible for the utilities, maintenance, and other standard expenses. Monthly house payments go back into a revolving fund to help build houses for other partner families.

What does a Habitat house cost?

Habitat homes are simple, decent houses built with the individual needs of the families in mind. The cost of Habitat houses are currently $60 per square foot with a typical 3-bedroom home being approximately 1000 square feet. Mortgage lengths are usually twenty years.

How are partner families selected?

The selection of families from Miami County, Ohio, who purchase homes from Habitat for Humanity of Miami County, Ohio is done by the Family Selection Committee using criteria in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, national origin, family status, or because all or part of income is derived from any public assistance program.
     Habitat for Humanity has three selection criteria that are used to objectively make selections:
              1.   Need for adequate shelter
              2.   Ability to pay
              3.   Willingness to partner