When Habitat families join us, they are working with us to help build their homes and then buying them from us.  Because we are an ecumenical Christian housing ministry, families make a down payment by pledging to spend 400 hours learning about home ownership and actually helping to build their homes.  When they purchase the house from Habitat we become the mortgage banker.  Our loans carry 0% interest for the life of the loan.

The income Habitat receives from mortgages goes into “The Fund For Humanity” and is used to build more homes.

Choosing Partner Families:  Selection Criteria

1. Inadequate housing
   
2. Financial need-family income of 30-50% of current median income; ability to make payments
   
3. Willingness to partner with Habitat-participating in education and sweat equity program

A community group of volunteers conducts the application process, which includes reviewing information with applicants and visiting them in their current housing.  The committee makes recommendations to the Habitat Board of Directors, who has the final decision regarding which families are selected.

If you would like information, contact our Family Services Coordinator at 332-5962, ext. 14 or by e-mail to [ email ].

Ability to Pay
Since you'll actually be buying your home from Habitat, you must demonstrate your ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment. This payment will include, not only the mortgage payment but also, the payment for real estate taxes and insurance.  We will help you to determine if this payment will jeopardize your ability to meet all your family's other financial obligations and expenses.  We can also help you if you need to determine your eligibility.  There is no down payment required for a Habitat home. However, any outstanding judgments, collections, and liens will need to be satisfied before homeownership with Habitat.

Willingness to Partner With Habitat

1. When an individual/family is selected, they become a "partner" with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls and part of an exciting housing movement!.
2. A partner family must complete 400 hours of sweat equity before becoming a Habitat homeowner. These hours are accomplished through a required training program as well as working with volunteers and other partner families on construction of others' homes and then of your own home.  The training program provides thorough training in Basic Construction Skills and Safety, and later in Home Maintenance & Repair.  So, your skill level and understanding of construction and maintenance will increase tremendously through your sweat equity.  Other sweat equity activities are available as necessary, and a portion of the 400 hours may be provided by friends and/or relatives not in your immediate family.
3. The required training includes  in-depth financial counseling and budgeting along with other homeownership issues.
4. Habitat homeowners are responsible for all their own maintenance and repairs to the house after signing their mortgage.

The Selection of families who will purchase homes from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls, Inc., will be done by the Family Selection  Committee using these criteria in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, familial status,  national origin or because all or part of the applicant's income is derived from public assistance programs.

STILL INTERESTED?
You must have been a resident of Minnehaha or Lincoln Counties in South Dakota for at least one year.  You must also be a legal resident of the United States.

The first step, if you decide you'd like to apply to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls, is to let us know you're interested!  You can call the office and leave your name, address and phone number. Or, you can email us at familyservices@siouxfallshabitat.org.  We hold an orientation once a year  and will send you a notice about a month prior to this event.

At the orientation, we'll go into more detail on the qualifications, as well as expectations of our partners and what you can expect from Habitat if you are selected. If you decide this is something you're still interested in and may qualify for, you'll complete a pre-application and sign a release form, giving our Family Selection Committee permission to run a credit check. The rest of the selection process will be explained at the orientation.

[Revised Jan 2004]