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How Do I Become a Habitat Partner Family?

Candidates for Habitat home ownership must be able to answer "yes" to all of the following:

• Families must be in need of simple, decent and affordable housing
• The family has lived in the McIntosh County for at least 1 year
• The applicant, co-applicant and additional wage earners must be permanent residents or citizens of the United States
• The family must be living in sub-standard housing as determined by Habitat
• The family must meet Habitat's current income guidelines
• The family cannot qualify for conventional real estate financing
• The family does not have excessive accounts in arrears, collection or judgments
• The family must show a history of steady income and demonstrate the ability to pay the loan.
• The family is willing to learn as much as possible necessary to become a successful home owner, and is ready to assume the responsibilities of home ownership and will attend home buyer education classes
• Each adult member is willing to put in 200 hours of sweat equity toward the construction of Habitat homes (non-construction activities are available if you are unable to do physical work)

All prospective homebuyers must attend an orientation meeting. At the orientation prospective homeowners will learn:

• What Habitat is about
• Where and what type of homes we build
• What is involved in becoming a Habitat homeowner
• The steps to take to continue the home buying process
• Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat homeowner families

Sweat Equity

Future Habitat homeowners are required to contribute at least 200 hours per adult family member of sweat equity-time spent on Habitat for Humanity projects. Whether it's working on their own home, or on the homes of other future Habitat homeowners, applicants contribute toward our mission of building decent, affordable housing. Sweat equity reduces the monetary cost of a house and increases the personal stake of family members in their home. There is a strong sense of empowerment in knowing that the home is not a handout or a gift, but rather something they have earned themselves - with the help of a team of caring friends. That sense of empowerment, a simple acknowledgement of the individual dignity of each person, is perhaps Habitat's greatest strength.

How do I Apply?

The first step to becoming a Habitat partner family is to attend a homebuyer orientation. At this informational session you will find out all you need to know about Habitat for Humanity's home ownership program and the next steps you will need to take in order to fill out a home buyer application. Watch the Darien News or check the website calendar for the next orientation.

What Kind of Homes Does Habitat Build?

Habitat for Humanity builds high quality homes in a variety of styles.