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Habitat for Humanity of McLean County has selected it's Partner Families for 2009. If you are interested in partnering with Habitat to build a home in 2010, please click here to fill out our homeowner interest form. We will contact you regarding the application period.
Habitat for Humanity of McLean County selects families on the basis of three criteria: housing need, ability to pay a no-interest mortgage, and willingness to partner with Habitat. Please note that applicants must be residents of McLean County for at least one year. There are no other criteria. Each is explained in more detail below.
Housing Need
The following are some of the conditions that qualify as a housing need:
- Inadequate Housing: Lack of adequate housing may include problems with the present structure; water, electrical or sewage service systems; heating system, or failure to meet city property maintenance standards. Also taken into consideration are the number, the ages and the gender of children compared to the number of bedrooms in your present home.
- Overcrowded Conditions: Your current housing will be evaluated based on the number of people living in the home, and the number, ages, and gender of children compared to the number of bedrooms in the home.
- Subsidized housing: Habitat will consider applications from families in subsidized housing. However, you should be aware that applications are evaluated on the basis of need, and that families living in inadequate housing, or in overcrowded conditions will be rated higher than those whose only need is subsidized housing.
Ability to Pay
The percentage of your monthly income that you currently spend on housing is considered to help determine need. You will be required to openly and fully discuss your financial situation with Habitat Interviewers. You and your family will be considered if your annual total income is under the following income guidelines for McLean County.
| Family Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| One | $2,645 | $31,740 |
| Two | $3,020 | $36,240 |
| Three | $3,400 | $40,800 |
| Four | $3,775 | $45,300 |
| Five | $4,075 | $48,900 |
| Six | $4,380 | $52,560 |
| Seven | $4,680 | $56,150 |
| Eight | $4,985 | $59,820 |
Since you will actually be buying your house from Habitat, you must demonstrate your ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment. This payment will include not only the mortgage payment, but the payment for real estate taxes and insurance. We will help you to determine if this payment will jeopardize your ability to meet all your other family financial obligations and expenses. We can also help you if you need to develop a budget to determine your eligibility. The family will be expected to save $800 for a down payment and first year's insurance on the house.
Willingness to Partner with Habitat
- Sweat Equity: When selected, you become a "partner family". As a partner family you will be responsible sweat equity. This sweat equity may be accomplished in construction of your house and the houses of others and may include clearing the lot, painting, helping with construction, providing food for volunteers, working in the Habitat ReStore, working in the Habitat office and attending Homeownership Classes. Sweat equity hours are based on the number of adults in the family. Requirements are 250 hours for a single adult, 500 hours for two adults, and 75 additional hours for each adult child. Each family must complete 80% of the total required hours. The family can receive credit for the remaining sweat equity hours put in by friends and relatives who join in the work.
- Homeownership: You will be responsible for maintenance and repairs of your house from the time you sign the mortgage. You will be a homeowner, and Habitat is not a landlord.
