Solano HABITAT for HUMANITY

 HOW TO BE A HABITAT FAMILY

• Housing Mission
• Becoming a Habitat Homeowner
• How Habitat Homeowners are Selected
• Who Qualifies?
• Step-by-Step Process
• Habitat Expectations
• Timeline

Fairfield:  The next Fairfield Orientation will be in fall, 2006.  Applications to partner on a Habitat House are only available during the orientation meeting. 

OUR HOUSING MISSION:

 To eliminate poverty housing from the Solano and Napa County areas, and to make simple, decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience.

 Habitat for Humanity provides home ownership opportunities to individuals with low-income. Working under the faith-based principal that no profit should be gained from assisting those in need, Habitat charges no interest on the loans for the homes it sells. “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy...charge him no interest” (Exodus 22:25)

Homeowner Brochure:

Becoming a Habitat Homeowner

 Solano Habitat for Humanity is an organization that helps partners with low incomes build decent, affordable homes. A selection process undertaken by the Solano Habitat for Humanity Family Selection Committee chooses Habitat homeowners.

How Habitat Homeowners Are Selected

 Solano Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, familial status, ancestry, physical handicap, medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, AIDS, AIDS-related condition (ARC), mental disability or any other arbitrary basis. The family selection process is fair and unbiased.

Who Qualifies?

 There are three criteria for a Habitat home:

1. Need - The homeowner chosen for a Habitat house must live in inadequate, overcrowded, unsafe and overly expensive housing.
2. Ability to Pay - Selected homeowner purchases their homes from Habitat and must be able to make a monthly mortgage payment. The prospective homeowner’s income should fall between 25% and 50% of the median income for families of the same size living in Solano and Napa Counties.
3. Willingness to Partner - Homeowner will contribute a minimum of 500 sweat equity toward the construction of their home and the homes of other Habitat families. A homeowner partnership with Habitat does not end once the home is completed. Future involvement can continue through committee work, board membership, and other means.

 Homeowners are selected based on the severity of their present housing conditions, their willingness to partner with Habitat, and their ability to repay the cost of a Habitat home. Partner homeowners also receive counseling and training on homeownership and maintenance. Homeowners buy their completed homes from Habitat for Humanity at cost and repay them over 20 years through a no-interest mortgage. Monthly payments are manageable even for very low-income partners, and often Habitat homeowners pay less for their new home than they did for their previous substandard housing. These payments are deposited into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to help fund additional Habitat Homes.

Step-by-Step Selection Process

 The first step is attendance at an orientation session where an application is available. These sessions are announced in the newspapers, on the radio and on flyers posted in public places. The orientation session will also be announced on this Web site. Applications are available only at the orientation and must be completed and returned to Solano Habitat for Humanity. Returned applications are then screened to determine if they meet income guidelines. Interested individuals that do meet the income guidelines receive a home visit. After the home visit, a credit report is obtained and a second home visit is made. Individuals considered by the selection committee to have the greatest need are recommended to the Solano Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors. The Board of Directors makes the final selection. The process can take three to six months, depending on the number of applications.

Habitat Expectations

1. Homeowner will carefully manage their money.
2. Homeowner will make regular mortgage payments.
3. Home maintenance will be the responsibility of the homeowner.
4. Homeowners will participate in Partner activities that support the entire Habitat community.
5. Homeowner will participate in Homeowner classes including finance, maintenance and ownership.

Timeline

1. Once selected, move into is dependent on completion of a house.

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Equal Opportunity Housing We are pledged to the letter and spirit of US Policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunities throughout the nation. We encourage and support a housing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex or handicap.

Updated: Jul 1, 2006