Apply for a Home

How to apply for Habitat home

To make the dream of affordable homeownership achievable, Pemi-Valley Habitat partners with local families, financial donors, and community volunteers. We build safe, energy-efficient, affordable homes through these partnerships, giving families a hand-up (not a handout) to a better life. Ready to take the plunge into homeownership? Read on to learn more about homeownership qualifications and how to apply.

Do you qualify for a Habitat home?

Habitat homeowners must be active participants in building a better home and future for themselves and their families. Before you start the application process, please see if you meet the following three criteria:

1. Housing Need

Demonstrate a need for a Pemi- Valley Habitat for Humanity home, including one or more of the following:

Living in overcrowded conditions or unsafe environments
Living with relatives, friends, or in other temporary housing
Having housing expenses that are more than 30% of their household income
Unable to qualify for conventional mortgages on a market-rate house

2. Ability to pay an affordable mortgage

Habitat homeowners must earn 30-80% of HUD median household income levels, adjusted depending on the number of people living in the home. Homeowners must be able and willing to pay an affordable mortgage through a local bank or credit union.

3. Willingness to partner with Habitat

Once selected, future Habitat homeowners must partner with us throughout the process. This partnership includes performing “sweat equity. A single head of household must complete 200 hours of sweat equity, with at least 75 of those hours helping to build their home or the homes of others. Two heads of household must complete 400 hours of sweat equity with at least 150 hours at the home build site. Other sweat equity hours may include working at the Habitat ReStores, completing financial training, homeownership training, and meeting with Habitat staff.