What is the Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program?
Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity offers a Homeownership Program to residents of Stearns, Sherburne, Benton, and Wright counties as a hand-up to low-income families that are unable to get a mortgage from the bank. We do not give houses away for free, but instead provide affordable and zero-interest mortgages to families that qualify. If you become involved with our Homeownership Program, Habitat for Humanity will help find you a simple, decent and affordable home. In return, you will have to give time for service work, attend homeowner education classes, and help Habitat in other ways.
Who Qualifies for the Homeownership Program?
There are initial qualifications for those who are interested in our homeownership program.
1. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
2. You cannot currently own a home.
3. You must have lived in Stearns, Sherburne, Benton, or Wright county for a year before applying.
4. You cannot have had property foreclosed on for one year before applying.
5. You cannot have had a bankruptcy for one year before applying.
6. Your total family income must fall between 30% to 60% of area median income (more information about this below)
Total family income is more than just income from employment. In addition to employment income, total family income can include child support, alimony/spousal support, social security, SSI, SSI for a child under 18, disability, and unemployment. Food stamps and rental assistance do NOT count towards your total family income.
In order to qualify, your income must be above the minimum (30%) level and below the maximum (60%) level. Make sure you are looking at the correct table for your county. The first table is for Stearns and Benton Counties, and the second table is for Sherburne and Wright counties. Also make sure that you are looking at the correct size of your household. Your household size should include all people (adults, children, and yourself) who would live in the house.
1. You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
2. You cannot currently own a home.
3. You must have lived in Stearns, Sherburne, Benton, or Wright county for a year before applying.
4. You cannot have had property foreclosed on for one year before applying.
5. You cannot have had a bankruptcy for one year before applying.
6. Your total family income must fall between 30% to 60% of area median income (more information about this below)
Total family income is more than just income from employment. In addition to employment income, total family income can include child support, alimony/spousal support, social security, SSI, SSI for a child under 18, disability, and unemployment. Food stamps and rental assistance do NOT count towards your total family income.
In order to qualify, your income must be above the minimum (30%) level and below the maximum (60%) level. Make sure you are looking at the correct table for your county. The first table is for Stearns and Benton Counties, and the second table is for Sherburne and Wright counties. Also make sure that you are looking at the correct size of your household. Your household size should include all people (adults, children, and yourself) who would live in the house.
| Stearns & Benton Counties | |||||||||||
| Median Income | FY 2012 Income Limit % | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person | 9 Person | 10 Person |
| $69,300 | 30% | $13,850 | $15,800 | $17,800 | $19,750 | $21,350 | 22,950 | $24,500 | $26,100 | $27,650 | $29,210 |
| 60% | $27,650 | $31,600 | $35,550 | $39,500 | $42,650 | $45,800 | $48,950 | $52,150 | $55,300 | $58,450 | |
| Sherburne & Wright Counties | |||||||||||
| Median Income | FY 2012 Income Limit % | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person | 9 Person | 10 Person |
| $83,900 | 30% | $17,300 | $20,150 | $22,650 | $25,150 | $27,200 | $29,200 | $31,200 | $33,200 | $35,250 | $37,300 |
| 60% | $34,600 | $39,500 | $44,450 | $49,400 | $53,350 | $57,300 | $61,250 | $65,200 | $69,150 | $73,100 | |
If you meet the initial qualifications, your application is considered based on the following guidelines:
1. Need for Decent, Affordable Housing
Examples of need include (you need one or more of the following):
2. Ability to Pay
The family must have the means to afford a mortgage with Habitat for Humanity. Proof of Ability to Pay includes:
3. Willingness to Partner
The family must show a willingness to partner with Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. A family demonstrates willingness to partner by doing the following:
Examples of need include (you need one or more of the following):
- Spending too much of your income on housing
- Overcrowding
- Living in temporary/unstable housing
- Living in housing that is unsafe
- Living in housing with poor living conditions such as bad heating, poor plumbing, pests, and structural problems
- Special needs of family members is not being met by the current housing
2. Ability to Pay
The family must have the means to afford a mortgage with Habitat for Humanity. Proof of Ability to Pay includes:
- Steady income. Remember that income is more than just employment income.
- Your debt and credit history will be evaluated. If you have had credit issues in the past, this does not automatically disqualify you. We will take into account circumstance, timing, and amount among other factors.
3. Willingness to Partner
The family must show a willingness to partner with Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. A family demonstrates willingness to partner by doing the following:
- Turn in all application materials and other requested documentation on time.
- Complete all materials HONESTLY.
- Complete a minimum number of 200 hours of Sweat Equity per applicant, plus 100 hours for anyone else over the age of 18. To learn what sweat equity is click HERE.
- Take homeowner education classes. These classes teach a variety of subjects including financial management, neighbor relations, yard maintenance, and mortgages. These classes will be taught either by Habitat for Humanity staff or by professionals in the relevant field.
- Will allow family story to be publicized. Exceptions are made as needed.
How do I apply to the Homeownership Program?
1. Attend a public information meeting.
These meetings are held once or twice each year. If you are interested in our program and would like to attend a meeting, click here to see if we currently have any scheduled.
If there are no meetings currently scheduled, you can fill out our Contact Form. We will put your contact information on a list and let you know a month before the next meeting is held.
If you want to know more about the application and homeownership process, please look at our 'How to Apply' page.