Habitat for Humanity

Factual Questions
1

I posted in another thread about my niece’s daughter Here .

I am wondering if I can get her on the list for Habitat for Humanity. I just don’t know how to do it. Allowing her to rent my house is a step up, but these 5 kids deserve a lot more than that, especially the paralyzed 14 year old.

Is there anyone out there familiar with it? Can anyone give me some tips when dealing with them?

2

I have no personal experience with HFH, but here’s a starting point:
http://www.habitat.org/how/factsheet.html

There’s a section that covers how families are selected. You have to apply to your local chapter.

3

HFH Humanity employee here.
I can’t speak to your affiliates specific requirements, but here are some general guidlines.:

  1. She must have an income between 25%-50% of the median income for your area.

  2. She must be willing to do sweat equity hours. Typically this is 300-500 hours of work on our construction sites, but if she is unable to do manual labor they may be able to find other tasks for her.

  3. She must be living in condition of need. This can be defined in various ways, including: too many people living in the same house, rent as too high a proportion of her income, or living in a dangerous neighborhood.

Depeding on the affiliate, she may be able to have freinds/relatives donate a portion of the hours and recylce aluminum cans for hours.

If she meets the requirements and completes her hours, HFH will sell her the property at a reasonable price with a 0% interest mortage.

Feel free to email me if you have specific questions. Hope this helps.

4

that_darn_cat This has been a huge help thank you…she does qualify on ALL counts. including the last three of #3. They have been living in a 4 room apartment…not 4 bedroom…4 rooms!

I didn’t realize, I feel ashamed of myself for not doing something sooner. It is sad to know that they have had such problems and here I am feeling sorry for myself. If I can help them get their own home I would be helping them much more than allowing them to rent my house with the possibility that I may come back someday and take it back. I can rent this to anyone else.

Do you know what the credit requirements are? She has never had a loan or credit card before. So she has no credit and a bad phone bill from 3 yars ago.

I am so glad you spoke up here, thank you again.

5

No credit is not a problem, they mostly worry about oustanding credit issues. They will likely work with her on the phone bill. I really do hope this helps. HFH is a great progam fro folks who need a hand up. It’s not easy or free, but it can be a huge help.

Best wishes and good luck,

That_Darn_Cat

6

One more thing. Does the land have to be donated and the house built? Or can she buy a house already existing?

7

What happens is generally she’ll get offered a house that’s already under constuction. So you don’t have tp worry about that end.