Applying for a Home

Homes are built using volunteer labor and some donated materials. Then employing biblical economics, homes are sold to families in need, at no profit and a zero interest mortgage. This is not a rental program! Habitat partner families repay the cost of the house using an interest-free mortgage. This money is then used to build more houses in Midland County.

Homeowners, in addition to repaying the cost of the home, are required to participate in the construction of their new home and to help other prospective homeowners build their homes. This is called sweat equity and is a mainstay of Habitat's practices.

MCHFH accepts applications for housing once a year. You must attend an informational meeting to receive your application. The selection process is very thorough and there are a limited number of houses that we can build.

If you are interested in being considered for the Habitat program, contact our office manager at (989) 496-0900 to sign up. When we are ready to accept applications, we will contact you and let you know that applications are open.

The Applicant Selection Process

Application

• Applications are taken once a year at an informational meeting.
• The applicant family must fill out and submit an application by the specified deadline date.
• The Family Selection Committee will review the application to verify that prospective families meet the selection criteria. (Most criteria are set by Habitat for Humanity International.) A team of two persons from the Family Selection Committee will visit the applicant at home to interview the family and verify details on the application.
• Once all eligible applicants have been visited, the Committee ranks the applicants and makes a recommendation to the Board.
• The Board makes the final decision and notifies the applicants by mail and personal visits.

Criteria for Eligibility

Applicants are judged on housing need, ability to pay for Habitat housing and willingness to partner with Habitat.

The selection of families who will purchase homes from Midland County Habitat for Humanity will be done by the Family Selection committee in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, age, handicap, religion, marital status or because all or part of applicant’s income is derived from public assistance programs.

Applicants must meet specific criteria in order to be eligible for a Habitat home:

• The applicant family must fill out and submit an application by the specified deadline date.
• Applicant cannot be eligible for a conventional housing loan.
• If the applicant is undergoing divorce, the divorce must be final at the time of application.
• Applicant must have a family income of 30 – 50% of the Midland County median income (see chart below).
• Applicant family must be willing to work 400 hours (300 hours for single parent families) on Habitat projects (this is called sweat equity). One hundred hours must be completed prior to beginning construction on their home.
• The applicant must show the ability to live on a budget and keep a house in good condition.
• Shared custody of children must be described.

Income Limits as of 2009

Family Size	30%	50%
2	$15,500	$25,850
3	$17,450	$29,050
4	$19,400	$32,300
5	$20,900	$34,900
6	$22,500	$37,450
7	$24,050	$40,050
8	$25,600	$42,650

Sweat Equity: What Counts

Any time a member of a MCHFH Provisional Partner Family (PPF) does work which counts toward sweat equity, the time must be recorded and signed by the person supervising their work. If the work is not signed, it cannot be counted. The signed Sweat Equity Time Sheets must be turned into the Habitat Office so they can be recorded. A copy can be made for the PPF records if requested. The PPF must complete 100 hours of sweat equity before MCHFH will agree to build them a house. The PPF refers to the people who will be living in the house.

A single-parent family must complete a total of 300 hours (100 by the PPF before building starts, a minimum of 100 by the PPF, a maximum of 100 by friends and family of PPF.) A two-parent family must complete 400 hours (100 by the PPF before building starts, a minimum of 150 by the PPF, a maximum of 150 by friends and family of PPF.)

What Counts as acceptable Sweat Equity?

• Construction on Habitat Homes – yours and others in the community
• Habitat Office work

When there is not construction in process, what counts?

• United Way Volunteer Center
• West Midland Family Center
• North Midland Family Center
• Salvation Army Center
• Midland Area Homes
• Other non-profits – if approved by Advocate Chair
• Attending ground breaking of Habitat Houses
• Attending dedication of Habitat Houses
• Baking Cookies for Dedication Ceremony
• Budgeting Classes
• MSU Nutrition Classes
• Home Ownership and Home Maintenance Classes
• Babysitting Course for Teens at Midland Community Center
• Working at the Home Builders Show