Homeowners
What does Habitat for Humanity of Madison County do for people?
Habitat for Humanity of Madison County (HFHMC) partners with families that have a need for housing and a desire to own there own homes. After completion of the Habitat program, families purchase a home that they, the community and Habitat have built together. The home is sold to the family through a program it calls Bible Financing.
"If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest."
Exodus 22:25
The Banks family outside of their new home in 2005.
Habitat sells their homes to families.
- An affordable house - Habitat makes no profit.
- An affordable mortgage - Habitat charges no interest.
- Long term to pay - Twenty-year mortgage.
The Sledge family outside of their new home in 2005.
How does it work?
In order to qualify for the Habitat program you must meet three criteria:
1) You must have a need for housing: Habitat works with families that have a need for a new home due to several factors:
- Your home is substandard and unrepairable: The residence you live in has significant structural defects and is not safe for you and your family to live in.
- Your home is temporary in nature: Are you living with family, friends, shelter, public housing, subsidized housing, or without a home.
- Your home inadequate for you and your family: Is your home too small for your family? Are children of different genders sharing bedrooms or if there is three or more people forced to share a bedroom due to lack of rooms? Do you are a family member have a disability that makes it difficult to get around the home? Are you living in a high crime area?
3) You must have willingness to partner with Habitat and the Community: Habitat works in partnership with their families.
- Families assist with building other family's homes, helping in the office and Habitat ReStore, and many other activities,
- Families have to attend classes and workshops to help prepare them for the challenges of homeownership,
- Families have to pay $1,000.00 for closing cost on their home, and
- Families must have an open and honest relationship with Habitat.
Partner Families Linda Williams, Samantra Briggs, and Carmen Vega during construction of Samantra's home.
How can I get a Habitat home?
Families are selected for the Habitat program through an application process. You must attend an Applicant-Orientation. These orientations are held every month.
To reserve a seat for an orientation, please call Jeremy Foulks, Director of Family Services, at 533-2282, Monday through Friday 8:30am through 5:30pm or email at JFoulks@hfhmc.org
If you would like to send information about yourself to the Family Service Coordinator, please fill out the online questionaire.
Common Questions and Myths About Habitat
- You have to make lots of money to afford a home! False! Habitat works with low-income families who are unable to work with standard mortgage companies to purchase decent housing. You do have to have enough income to afford the mortgage and maintain a standard of living.
- I have to have perfect credit to get a home! FALSE! Habitat works with families that have good credit to bad credit, or even no credit! We will run a credit report on applicants to see that they are paying their bills.
- How long does it take to get a Habitat home? It usually takes a family one to one and a half years from the time they are approved for a Habitat home till the time they are able to move into their home. Families must complete all their partnership criteria before we will allow them to move into the home.
- Does Habitat build for people without children? Yes, Habitat works with individuals and families with or without children.
Carmen Vega with her PAL, Jim Sutton, and Jeremy Foulks, Director of Family Services, at Carmen's House Dedication in 2005.
How Can I Help Someone Who Wants To Get A Home?
- Our Family Selection and Family Support Committees are always looking for people to join them in assisting those in our community find decent and affordable housing.
- Our Family Selection Committee works with families that are applying for Habitat homes. The members of this committee help with finding families and explaining how Habitat works, assisting with orientations, overseeing the application process and conducting home visits for qualified families.
- Our Family Support Committee works with selected families to ensure they are prepared for homeownership. These volunteers help with classes and workshops dealing with home repairs to budgeting skills. These volunteers may also wish to partner as mentors with our families as a PAL (Partner/Advocate/Liaison). You will assist families as they work through the Habitat program and guide them through obstacles they may encounter. This is a great project for Sunday school classes, civic groups, or individuals.
For more information about these programs, please contact:
- Jeremy Foulks, Director of Family Services
- By phone at 533-2282 Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm
- By email
