Family Selection Guidelines
The Family Services staff and committee work together with prospective homeowners to answer questions, review applications, and partner with families throughout the entire process of becoming a Habitat homeowner. Family selection is based on the following guidelines: Families must be:

1. In need of simple, decent, affordable housing.

• Structural survey analysis of current housing.
• Overcrowding (number of persons in each bedroom, number of persons sleeping in rooms other than bedrooms).
• Prospective homeowner pays more than 30% of their income on housing.

2. Able to pay the no-interest mortgage.

• Gross income must fall within 30-60% of HUD's area median income. (see maximum income levels table below).
• Must have had any bankruptcy filing discharged 2 years prior to applying for a CMHFH home. Any bankruptcy filed within the past 7 years must be accompanied by a written explanation of the facts and circumstances leading to their filing.
• Cannot have owned a home within the last year.
• Must have lived in the service area for at least 12 months.
• Monthly debt plus monthly house payment is less than 40% of monthly income.
• Credit reports will be evaluated.
• Demonstrated past, present and projected stability of income for 3 years.

3. Willing to partner with Habitat and complete 200-500 hours of sweat equity.

• A minimum number of 200 hours of Sweat Equity must be contributed by each adult in the home with a maximum number of 500 hours per household,
• Will be able to contribute at least 10 hours per month to achieve a minimum of 100 sweat equity hours (per adult)within one year of signing the Partnership Agreement, a home location will not be offered until the 50% criteria has been met.
• 75% of the sweat equity hours must be contributed by the applicants/adults in the home and 50% of the hours must be completed on Direct Habitat for Humanity Projects for CMHFH,
• Time spent in required homeownership classes will be counted. All required sweat equity hours must be completed before closing on your home.
• Will participate in publicity for CMHFH.

Income Levels

In order to qualify, applicants must have minimum annual income (see below) guidelines by family size. See Column I for minimum income requirements and Column II for maximum annual income based on your family size. Please note that there are two charts, the first one is for Stearns and Benton Counties and the second one if for Sherburne and Wright Counties.

  Median Income Levels for Stearns and Benton Counties

Median Income Levels for Sherburne and Wright Counties

What's involved in becoming a Habitat homeowner:

• Fill out the online pre-screen questionnaire.
• Once your pre-screening form is received and reviewed, you will be notified if you qualify to receive an invitation to the orientation for prospective homeowners. All denials will receive a letter detailing reasons for not receiving an invitation and are welcome to re-apply for an invitation after correcting (1.) Damaged Credit or (2.) Meeting Income guidelines.
• Complete applications are reviewed.
• Family Selection Committee decision on prospective homeowners.
• Board of Directors decision on prospective homeowners.
• Signing of the Partner Family Agreement and Publicity Waiver.
• Family Support Partner assigned to provide support, guidance, and education to family during and after the house build.
• Construction of the home and sweat equity.
• Training - homeowner must attend 9-10 homeowner training classes and receive certificate of completion.
• Closing and Dedication - after home is completed, closing and house dedication will be scheduled. Earnest money of $1500 must be saved prior to closing.
• Nurture/Support - Family Support Partner continues follow-up with family after move-in.

Sweat Equity

Sweat equity may be earned by friends and family who credit their time toward the applicant. However, only 50 hours can be earned by proxies designated by the homeowner and must be completed along side their contributor. For example: if you are partner family and you have your brother come out and volunteer on site, you must work during that same time with him.

Tools and equipment are provided, but future Habitat homeowners are recommended to bring work gloves, safety glasses, hard soled shoes and any other personal safety items. Habitat staff members and professional volunteers supervise all work. Be sure to bring your own lunch, as lunch is not provided. Log all hours worked for your records. Persons who do not maintain their sweat equity log will not receive credit for their hours after the fact. Applicants are advised not to solicit volunteers at the work site to donate hours to your application.

Children under 16 are not eligible to earn sweat equity hours. For safety reasons, please do not bring them to the work site. Children over 16 require adult supervision at all times on the work site.