Residency

To apply, you must:

• Must currently either reside and/or work in Carroll County AND provide proof of residency or proof of employment in this county for the previous 12 months.
• Be a permanent legal resident of the United States or a U.S. citizen.
• Have not owned a property for the previous three years, and
• Agree to live in the Habitat home as your main residence.

Housing need

We pick applicants who need a Habitat house the most. You must allow Habitat staff to visit your current home to see your housing needs. Examples of housing needs include:

• Not enough space where you live.
• Unsafe or unhealthy living conditions (like broken structures or bad plumbing).
• Living in a neighborhood that isn’t suitable.
• Staying in temporary housing or being homeless.
• Spending more than 30% of your income on rent and utilities.
• Not being able to get a regular mortgage.

Qualifying Income

Your household income cannot be higher than the limits in the chart below. The combined income includes anyone in your household who is 18 or older.

Income includes:

• Wages or salaries you expect to earn in the next 12 months (including dependable overtime, commission, or bonuses).
• Income from self-employment with proof of two years in the same work.
• Stable and regular public assistance, child support, alimony, or retirement income.
• Money earned from assets.

Willingness to Work with Habitat

If approved, you must be willing to meet Habitat’s requirements. This includes:

• Answering questions and providing information quickly and completely.
• Completing your sweat-equity* hours.
• Helping with fundraising or public events.
• Agreeing to a criminal background check and giving letters of support.
• Telling Habitat if your household, income, or contact info changes.

* What is Sweat-Equity?
Sweat-equity means you help with building or fixing homes, take homeowner education or budgeting classes, assist in the office, or do other approved activities.

Screenings

Applicant and any person over 18 years of age who will live in the Habitat home will be screened through the National Sex Offender Registry and will need to complete a criminal background check

Habitat homes are not free. Our homeowners are given the opportunity to own their own home through our affordable mortgage program. We provide 0% to low interest loans, payable over 30 years. In order to qualify for a Habitat loan you must meet the following criteria:

• Be legally able to take on a loan.
• Meet debt and credit requirements.
• Show you can pay for down payment and closing costs (if needed).
• Provide proof of income

We need to see that your income is steady and will continue in the future. You’ll need to provide the following documentation to Habitat:

• Two most recent years of W-2 statements
• 30 days of more recent pay stubs 
• Two most recent months of bank statements
• Two most recent years of your income tax returns

Yes, anyone who meets the qualification requirements listed above may apply.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, disability, religion, national origin, family/marital status, or because all or part of income is derived from any public assistance program.