Applicants to Habitat must meet the following criteria:
- Ability to Pay
- Willingness to Partner
- Need for Shelter
- Additional Requirements
What makes Habitat differ
ent than a conventional home seller? Habitat homeowners earn 30% to 50% of Area Median Income (AMI). We serve people who do not own their own home and are unable to obtain a conventional loan. We work with people who have credit issues or no credit—although we cannot process applications with outstanding judgments or a recent bankruptcy that hasn’t been discharged for at least two years.
Habitat’s mission is to eliminate substandard or poverty housing and provide safe, decent, and affordable homes. Therefore, we look at an applicant’s current housing and financial situations and help those who have a genuine need.
Ability to Pay
- Do you meet the following income guidelines?
Area Median Income (AMI)
Eligible family income levels are 30-60% of median income in accordance with Habitat for Humanity International’s guidelines. However, Habitat for Humanity-Greater Columbus’s current projects are restricted to 25-50% of median income as shown below and in accordance with local funding sources.
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Min. Monthly Income | $1,183 | $1,350 | $1,520 | $1,687 |
| Max. Monthly Income | $1,970 | $2,250 | $2,533 | $2,812 |
| Family Size | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Min. Monthly Income | $1,825 | $1,958 | $2,095 | $2,229 |
| Max. Monthly Income | $3,037 | $3,262 | $3,487 | $3,712 |
- Do you have the ability to pay a $1,000 payment ($500 downpayment and the estimated first year homeowners insurance premium of $500 totaling approximately $1,000)?
- Can you make house payments on time each month that are equal to 27.5% of your income?
- Do your credit reports reflect that you have responsibly handled any credit you may have?
- Are you employed or do you have steady income for the past six months?
Willingness to Partner
Are you willing to:
- Attend an orientation?
- Meet deadlines for application process?
- Complete 200-250 hours of sweat equity before moving into your home?
Need for Shelter
Is your current housing:
- Substandard (Overcrowded, run-down, defective, or unsafe)?
- In reasonable shape, but your rent costs more than 50% of your income?
- Temporary, transitional, or homeless?
Additional Requirements
- You must be a first-time homebuyer and can not qualify for a conventional loan
- You must have lived in Franklin County for at least one year
- You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident of the United States
Are you a veteran or currently serving in the military?
We encourage you to consider homeownership through our “Habitat for Heroes” program. As part of a national initiative, “Habitat for Heroes” encourages veterans and members of the military and their families to access affordable housing through Habitat for Humanity – Greater Columbus. The initiative also aims to create awareness of the opportunity to productively engage in the community alongside fellow veterans and to promote the value of volunteering in service to others. To learn more, contact Sharronkay Lytle, AmeriCorps*VISTA Veterans Engagement Coordinator, at 614-484-1610.
If you feel you meet all of the criteria above, please complete the online questionnaire below.
Family Services Department
Habitat for Humanity-Greater Columbus
3140 Westerville Road
Columbus, Ohio 43224
Phone: 614-364-7014
Fax: 614-753-4212
Need a translator?
When partnering with individuals and families who do not speak English, may have hearing or speech disabilities or other difficulties or handicaps which may lead to difficulty in communicating with Habitat for Humanity-Greater Columbus (HFHGC) staff and volunteers, HFHGC will first attempt to have family, volunteers, community organizations, and other local resources to locate and use translators willing to assist applicant and partner families at no cost to either the family or HFHGC. If HFHGC is unable to locate a person/organization willing to assist in translating, HFHGC will pay for the services of a translator in assisting the staff and family in completion of the application, home visit, and partnership criteria.
