The 4 Qualifications to Become a Habitat Homeowner:


1. NEED FOR HOUSING:
   
   Have a real need for adequate housing 
        ~ Substandard Housing - Your current home is substandard. 
            It is dangerous or unhealthy due to plumbing, electrical, structural, or
            other significant physical problems.
         ~ Homeless - living in temporary housing or living with another family.
         ~ Unsafe - The area where you are living is dangerous.
         ~ Paying too much of your available income for housing.


2. ABILITY TO PAY THE ZERO-INTEREST 
    MORTGAGE:
   
   1) For your family size, your total family income for the year 2007 must be 
        less than: 

   *Family income includes all work pay earned by family members, pensions, child support, foster child payments, disability income, interest or asset payments, or any other income source. (based on HUD 2006 70% median income)

   2) Other Financial Criteria
         ~ Able to pay a $1170 down-payment on closing costs before 
            construction begins on your home (paid at $65 a month for 18 months).
         ~ Willing and able to pay your monthly mortgage, insurance, and taxes
            (estimated at $350 a month)  You must also be able to pay 
            your utility and maintenance bills of approximately $200 a month.
         ~ After paying all of your household related bills, you must have the
            ability to pay for other family living costs 
            such as food, clothing, and debts that you have incurred.  
         ~ Work with our financial counselors through our Budget Basics program
            to pay outstanding debits and avoid new debt.


3. WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER:
   
   ~ Willing to perform sweat equity work, which includes working on the
      construction site for your home and other Habitat families' homes
       and/or working at our HomeStore.
   ~ Families are required to do a minimum of 10 sweat equity hours a month.
       Families headed by a single adult must earn 450 sweat equity hours and 
       two adult families must earn 500 sweat equity hours.
   ~ Attend Habitat's Homeownership Training.  The classes begin when
       you are selected and they continue for about 12 months.  Classes meet
       every Monday night.
   

4. RESIDENCY:
   
   ~ Applicants must be residents of Blount County for at least the last
       twelve months.
   ~ Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident of the United States of America.


Application Process:

   ~ To begin the application process, you will need to come into the Habitat office and put your name in the Application Request Log. 

PLEASE NOTE:  Every 6 months we notify the next (approximately) 60 families from our Application Request Log that they may pick up application packets from our office.  Our Family Selection Committee then processes those applications and recommends those families with whom we will partner with to build houses to our Board of Directors who make the final selection.

 THE EARLIEST THAT YOU COULD COMPLETE YOUR HABITAT HOUSE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS FROM THE TIME YOUR FAMILY IS SELECTED TO BE A FAMILY PARTNER.  THIS WILL BE ABOUT 3 YEARS AFTER YOU SIGNED THE LOG TO GET AN APPLICATION.  

         IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL 
            DAVID BONEWITZ AT (865) 982-8717 ext. 231

            BLOUNT COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SUPPORTS EQUAL 
      OPPORTUNITY HOUSING AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE 
      BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, HANDICAP, FAMILY    
         STATUS, MARITAL STATUS, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN OR 
                                             SOURCE OF INCOME.