Habitat seeks to give a "hand up, not a hand out" to families or individuals in need of adequate housing. We work with people that would otherwise not be eligible for a conventional bank loan at this time or within the next few years. Need is established by a variety of criteria including: income level, current housing situation, and specific needs.

There are six elements that define whether the present housing of an applicant is inadequate:

1. Structural safety, structural integrity and mechanical function.
2. Occupant safety
3. Uncorrectable physical barriers to accessibility
4. Size of living quarters
   1. More than two family members share a bedroom
   2. School age children of opposite sex share a bedroom
   3. Each family member has 100 square feet or less in which to live
5. Applicant is in a temporary housing situation, presently in Williams County, Ohio
6. Applicant's current housing expense is greater than 30% of gross income. Housing expenses include:
   1. Rent plus utilities (not including telephone)
   2. House payment, insurance & real estate taxes, plus utilities (not including telephone)

The family must be willing to become a partner with Habitat for Humanity in the building of their home and the home of others. Each adult in the household must contribute 250 sweat equity hours. Habitat looks for examples of how a person has shown commitment in other areas of their lives (example...how long at job, involvement in another activity, consistency in rent payment, caring for a loved one, etc..) Approved Partner Families must be willing to join programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair and maintenance. Habitat seeks families that will remain involved with Habitat after their home is complete.

The following factors are used to determine whether the applicant is willing to partner with Habitat:

1. Eagerness
   1. Application is completed and filed by the deadline
   2. Applicant readily engages in phone interview(s) and visitation process
2. Understanding
   1. Applicant expresses willingness to live in available Habitat home locations
   2. Applicant accepts the Habitat home design
   3. Applicant acquires an understanding of Habitat and the responsibilities of a Habitat homeowner
   4. Applicant understands the obligation of Sweat Equity Hours
      1. Sweat equity hours are volunteer hours that may consist of: construction on your home and the homes of others; working in the Habitat office or community service, etc.
      2. A single parent must complete 300 sweat equity hours. A two-parent family must complete 500 sweat equity hours. Friends and relatives may help with some of your volunteer hours
      3. A minimum of 50 hours per adult (18 years or older) in the family must be given to the construction of their own home
3. Realization
1. Applicant acknowledges the requirements of sweat equity hours and can complete the required hours within the expected time limits
2. Applicant recognizes that responsibility for timely mortgage payments
3. Applicant recognizes the responsibilities of homeownership and home maintenance

Since you will actually be buying your home from Habitat, you must demonstrate your ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment, real estate taxes and insurance. We will verify employment and other income, verify checking and savings account balances, get a statement from your current and previous landlords, have a credit check done and ask you for credit references. If you are approved for a Habitat home, $500 will be needed at closing. We do not want to set anyone up for failure and have them lose their home. This a mortgage and must be paid. The ability to pay is based upon many criteria, including.

1. Income Guidelines

2. Debt-to-Income Ratio

A family can be considered within our guidelines if your total monthly debt payments plus average housing expense for a Habitat home are less than equal to 36% of monthly gross income

3. Credit History

A credit report will be requested to review your current credit status. A family can be consdred to meet this criteria if:

1. The family has demonstrated the ability to make regular monthly payments for rent, utilities or other credit obligations
2. A review of the applicant's credit report confirms a record of consistent payments on outstanding debts
3. The family has been discharged from any bankruptcy filing for a minimum of two years
4. The family has no liens or judgements that cannot be cleared before closing

Once you complete the application, the following information is needed

• Copies of the last three months pay stubs
• Copies of the last three months credit card statements
• Copy of alimony (if received)
• Copy of Social Security or disability benefits (if received)
• Copy of child support, on all children (if received)
• Copy of Foot Stamp/Cash Assistance (if received)
• Copies of last three months utility bills
• Copies of other income information
• Cover Letter