In addition to helping people apply to own a home built by Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity, Family Services provides training and support to help owners after they move in.

Family Selection Process

Our Family Selection Committee, comprised of community volunteers and board members, selects potential families living in the Hattiesburg area for home ownership according to financial need, current substandard living conditions, and their ability to make monthly house payments.

The selected families must invest 450 hours of "sweat equity" in the construction of their homes. Working side-by-side, homeowner families, donors and other Habitat volunteers create a spirit of partnership and develop a sense of community, which benefits everyone.

Hattiesburg Area Habitat is committed to empowering very low-income families. A partner is assigned to the new homeowner family in the transition from renters to responsible homeowners. In addition, each family attends a series of workshops designed to educate and inform them during this transition.

Once construction is completed, the homes are sold at NO Profit to the homeowner families, who pay small monthly, NO INTEREST, mortgage payments over 20 years. Mortgage payments are recycled to build future homes for more needy families.

Family Selection Guidelines

• Hattiesburg Area Habitat does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, family status, or national origin. Subject to special exception, a family unit may not exceed the capacity of the Habitat home (no more than two persons per bedroom).
• The family must be living in sub-standard housing as determined by Habitat.
• The family must meet Habitat's current income guidelines.
• The family cannot qualify for conventional real estate financing.
• The family must show a history of steady income and demonstrate the ability to repay the loan.
• The applicant, co-applicant and additional wage earners must be permanent residents or citizens of the United States.
• Families are not selected until the property has been secured and finalized.
• The families will be selected from within the Hattiesburg area boundaries.
• 450 hours of sweat equity in building the home, HomeWORKS educational classes, and working in the HAHFH office is required by each family as well as the willingness and ability to maintain the Habitat home properly.
• Families must pay a small down payment of $500 at closing.

Families must have sufficient annual income to meet the expenses of home ownership (house payment, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, maintenance). Those below the minimum amount shown are less likely to be qualified in the selection process. Applications will be considered from families whose annual income falls at or below the upper income guidelines.

Please contact our Family Services Manager for more information regarding our program: 

601-582-4663 ext. 14

 

Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity - 601-582-4663 - info@HattiesburgHabitat.org

P.O. Box 1092, 5191 Hwy 42, Hattiesburg, MS 39403
© 2005-2006 Hattiesburg Area Habitat for Humanity