ELIGIBILITY DETAILS

Residency Requirements

The applicant and co-applicant must be EITHER:

Residents of Montgomery County or Delaware County, at the time of application and for at least the 12 months immediately preceding application.

– OR –

Must be employed in either when applying and show proof of such employment for the 12 months immediately preceding application (**does not imply a candidate must be employed; this applies only if the candidate does not reside in Montgomery or Delaware County).

The applicant and co-applicant must be lawful, permanent residents of the United States or US Citizens. Proof of lawful, permanent residency status or US Citizenship is required for each applicant and co-applicant.

The following is a partial list of acceptable documents:

Permanent Resident Card (Form I- 551)
United States passport
Certificate of United States Citizenship
Certificate of Naturalization
Original or certified copy of a birth certificate evidencing birth in the United States or outlying territory of the United States

Ability to Pay

The applicant and co-applicant must present information such as the following:

Financial and personal information:
- Employment references
- Federal and state income tax returns (must include front and back of documents)
- W2 statements
- Proof of employment or other income including Uber, Lyft, and Taxi Manifest.
Proof of monthly household expenses including:
- rent, utilities, child care, cell phones, car payments, car insurance, credit cards, school lunch, student loans, other loans, alimony, and/or child support.
Bank statements: most recent 6 months from all institutions

The applicant and co-applicant must also have a credit report clear of any bankruptcies or foreclosures within the last 3 years

The applicant and co-applicant must expect that employment or other sources of income (such as disability, social security, TANF/SNAP, or other types of assistance payments, if used to qualify for the loan) to meet Habitat’s minimum income requirement will remain constant.

(**This information will help determine if the family has the resources to make the proposed monthly Habitat housing payment, maintain the current level of reasonable living expenses, and stay current on existing debt obligations.)

Income Requirements

Habitat Home Purchase applicant(s) must have an annual household income below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) as determined by HUD (see table below). Each project in order to be made affordable, and ensure ability to pay, may have different minimum income requirements as a result of the home’s selling price.

Housing Need

The household must exhibit demonstratable housing need, which is defined as any of the following:

Cost burden: Applicant(s) are paying more than 30% of their monthly gross income towards housing
Homelessness or lack of permanent housing solution
Overcrowding or “insufficient space to accommodate the number of occupants in the residence at the time of application.”
Unsafe neighborhoods due to high violent crime rate, high non-violent crime rate (including illegal drug activity), or other commonly accepted measures of unsafe neighborhoods
Unhealthy neighborhood due to man-made or geo-climatic conditions such as flooding or earth movement
Substandard living conditions outside the control of the applicant(s), such as:
- Structural or mechanical problems, such as faulty or deteriorating foundation, structural, or roof systems
- Deteriorating interior walls or exterior cladding, poor insulation or waterproofing, broken doors/windows
- Broken or unsafe interior or exterior stairs and walkways
- Inoperable or dangerous HVAC, plumbing, or electrical systems; broken bathroom fixtures or major appliances
- Unhealthy interior or exterior environment due to rodent or insect infestation; exposed asbestos, lead, or other hazardous materials; or the presence of hazardous chemicals or gases (such as radon), etc.
- Ongoing, chronic, or unanswered maintenance requests of landlord/property management company

Willingness to Partner

All Habitat applicant(s) must commit to the terms of a Partnership Agreement, which outlines standard conduct expectations for program participation. One of the main partnership expectations is the completion of partnership hours which can be satisfied in a combination of the following ways:

Homebuyer/Financial empowerment education programming
Construction site participation/Home maintenance training
Habitat ReStore volunteering hours
Community service (outside of Habitat) hours
Children under 18 may contribute via maintaining good school grades
Friends and family may donate a portion of the hours

Equal Housing Statement

Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties is pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunities throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, sex, marital status, physical or mental disability, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, presence of children, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, and family responsibilities.

Ready to be a Habitat Homebuyer?

If you have any questions that are not answered here, please contact our Homebuyer Services Manager at programs@habitatmontdelco.org or call 610-278-7710.

Home Inquiry Form