Homeowner Selection
We have had many people ask how we choose the candidates to purchase a Habitat home. The process is long and arduous because there are so many families in need of safe housing on the Shore. The purchaser of the home must be a legal resident of the Accomack and Northampton counties. Each January we advertise in local papers and social media that the application process is open. This year we received 164 requests for applications! Each applicant is required to attend one meeting at which the entire process is explained. A portion of those people do not attend a meeting and are no longer considered. A completed application must be submitted and all submitted applications are vetted for debt history, verification of employment, criminal complaints and financial ability to pay an interest-free mortgage which will be under $500 including taxes for a 25 year term.
The selection committee is comprised of 3-4 board members who have the incredibly difficult job of selecting “finalists” from the families who meet the requirements. Each of these families has at least one home visit during which they are interviewed and their current living situation is evaluated for urgency of need. Priority is given to those living in dangerous situations like mold, rodents, lack of proper sanitation or other factors.
Eventually two families are chosen each year as long as Habitat has the resources to build two homes that year. Our current model is a three bedroom, 1 1/2 bath single story. It can take up to three years from being chosen to moving into the home due to delays in construction or lack of funding. During that time, the prospective homeowner attends financial seminars and begins working on their 350 hours of sweat equity which can include working on other homes as well as their own and volunteering at our events. A board member or volunteer is a one-on-one support during the process.
Finally, the day arrives when they sign the mortgage and move into the house. Recent homeowner, Rhashedia, (above left) applied several times and waited three years for her home.
We have had many people ask how we choose the candidates to purchase a Habitat home. The process is long and arduous because there are so many families in need of safe housing on the Shore. The purchaser of the home must be a legal resident of the Accomack and Northampton counties. Each January we advertise in local papers and social media that the application process is open. This year we received 164 requests for applications! Each applicant is required to attend one meeting at which the entire process is explained. A portion of those people do not attend a meeting and are no longer considered. A completed application must be submitted and all submitted applications are vetted for debt history, verification of employment, criminal complaints and financial ability to pay an interest-free mortgage which will be under $500 including taxes for a 25 year term.
The selection committee is comprised of 3-4 board members who have the incredibly difficult job of selecting “finalists” from the families who meet the requirements. Each of these families has at least one home visit during which they are interviewed and their current living situation is evaluated for urgency of need. Priority is given to those living in dangerous situations like mold, rodents, lack of proper sanitation or other factors.
Eventually two families are chosen each year as long as Habitat has the resources to build two homes that year. Our current model is a three bedroom, 1 1/2 bath single story. It can take up to three years from being chosen to moving into the home due to delays in construction or lack of funding. During that time, the prospective homeowner attends financial seminars and begins working on their 350 hours of sweat equity which can include working on other homes as well as their own and volunteering at our events. A board member or volunteer is a one-on-one support during the process.
Finally, the day arrives when they sign the mortgage and move into the house. Recent homeowner, Rhashedia, (above left) applied several times and waited three years for her home.