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The Family Selection Committee is currently processing applications for 2007 homes. Selecting and partnering with families is the foundation of Habitat for Humanity Victoria. We solicit and screen applications, interview prospective families and approve families for home ownership approval. We help families break the poverty cycle by providing them with a hand up, not a hand out. It takes at least three months to qualify a family and each family must meet the three basic criteria described below.
- Need for housing
- Willingness to partner
- Fall between 35% and 50% of HUD median income for Victoria County
The homes built by Habitat families and volunteers are simple, decent single family homes. They vary from 1,000 to 1,200 square feet, depending on family size. They have central heat and air conditioning and yards for the families to enjoy. Each house costs about $50,000 and monthly payments are about $330, which includes taxes and insurance. Habitat families are required to contribute 300 hours of "sweat equity" per adult to the building of their home and the homes of other Habitat families.
Each family chosen to purchase a Habitat Home must demonstrate:
- A need for decent, affordable housing. Families who are currently living in a substandard structure, overcrowded unit, or paying more than 30 percent of their income for housing, or are in temporary shelter, at risk of losing their housing.
- Ability to repay the zero percent mortgage through a credit history, adequate income and debt load review
- Willingness to partner with the Victoria Habitat for Humanity by contributing 300–500 hours of sweat equity helping to build their home or other Habitat homes and attending 11 first-time homebuyer classes.
Applicants for homeownership must meet the following requirements:
- Lived in Victoria County for at least one year.
- Have not filed for bankruptcy in the last two years, and, if filed in the past seven years, have demonstrated an improved financial condition.
- Contribute 300 hours of work per adult residing in the Habitat home toward the construction of Habitat homes.
- Attend 6 monthly home buyer education classes.
- Attend the 13-week Financial Peace University classes.
- No one in the household may be involved in criminal activity.
- Learn as much as possible to become a successful home owner and assume the responsibilities of home ownership.
- Family income meets the Habitat for Humanity Victoria income guidelines.*
In addition to the above requirements, candidates should be able to answer "yes" to most of the following statements:
- The place where I currently live is overcrowded.
- The place where I currently live is run-down.
- The place where I currently live is too expensive.
- The place where I currently live is temporary.
Click hereHabitat_SelectionTrifold to download our Family Selection Brochure with detailed income guidelines and application information.
Clients who are concerned about their credit or debt may contact Habitat to find out about other agencies that may be able to advise them on how to improve their credit standing.
Habitat for Humanity Victoria is an equal opportunity housing agency.
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