Habitat Home Application

Family Selection: Families in need either are referred or they come to Habitat directly.  We have housed many families from the local women’s shelter and many other single parent families.  Habitat is not just for single parent families or first time homebuyers. We have built homes with families from 2 to 8 members.  Habitat has also accommodated the physically disabled as well. Habitat Night, our monthly public meeting, is also for recruiting new partner families to apply.

Prior to the application, Family Support staff will meet individually with a family applicant to thoroughly explain the entire program and application process. This allows the applicant and Habitat to review the qualifications before actually making application. (See attached “Application Guidelines.”) 

All applications are kept in secure fireproof cabinets in locked offices and reviewed only by two staff members. All information is kept confidential and not taken or transmitted outside the office.  The staff makes recommendation to the board of directors for a “blind” approval or rejection. The family name is revealed only after the board has approved an applicant as a “Partner Family”.

PROGRAM QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

(Pre-Application Self Evaluation)

• Residency: Applicants must be current Hendricks County residents for the past 12 months.
• Criminal History: Applicants must have no felony convictions in the past five years and/or be listed as a child molester or sex offender.
• Housing Need: Applicant’s current housing must be non-existent, unsafe, inadequate, unaffordable, or temporary as determined by Habitat.
• Ability to Pay: Applicant must not have filed Bankruptcy within the last three years and must provide 2 years worth of sufficient and consistent income documentation. Applicant’s debt ratio must be less than 36% of total income. Applicant’s income must fall within the 30-55 % area median income limits for 2011 as listed below.

1-3 Persons	4 Persons	5 Persons	6 Persons	7 Persons	8 Persons
$17,850 $32,750	$19,800 $36,300	$21,400 $39,250	$23,000 $42,150	$24,600 $45,100	$26,150 $47,950

• Willingness to Partner: Applicant must be willing to complete 450 hours of “Sweat Equity” and 32 credit hours of Homeowner Education. Applicant must also participate in Fundraising events and Community Service activities. Applicant must make a $1,000.00 down payment prior to closing and show proof of payment of first year’s Homeowner Insurance.
• Christian Ministry: Habitat for Humanity of Hendricks County is a Christian ministry based on Christian principles and practices throughout the program. Habitat for Humanity of Hendricks County does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, but maintains the right to uphold the Christian principles and practices as set forth in its Mission Statement.

Family Advocate Program:  Each “Partner Family” is assigned a “Family Advocate” when they enter the program.  The family advocate should have, first of all, a thorough knowledge of the entire Habitat experience and process, from Applicant phase, to Partner Family phase, through the Homeowner phase.  They should be well prepared to answer the partner family’s questions while leading them through the process. It is important that the family advocate does not become an enabler, but to be a help and a guide through the process. Depending on the aggressiveness of the partner family, this relationship can be from 6 to 24 months. 

Second of all, the family advocate should be well versed in the homeowner education class content. The family advocate is a mentor and is the contact person and liaison for Habitat and the partner family.   The family advocate acts as a caseworker that reports the progress of the family in the program to staff. It is important to maintain a close relationship with the family to keep their progress consistent and on track. The family advocate is in the best position to minister to the partner family on a real individual basis and to develop a meaningful and helpful relationship that truly is a hand up and not a hand out.

• Willingness to Partner: Applicant must be willing to complete 450 hours of “Sweat Equity” and 32 credit hours of Homeowner Education. Applicant must also participate in Fundraising events and Community Service activities. Applicant must make a $1,000.00 down payment prior to closing and show proof of payment of first year’s Homeowner Insurance. • Christian Ministry: Habitat for Humanity of Hendricks County is a Christian ministry based on Christian principles and practices throughout the program. Habitat for Humanity of Hendricks County does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, but maintains the right to uphold the Christian principles and practices as set forth in its Mission Statement.