Family Selection Process

Habitat for Humanity is an organization developed on Christian principles. It works in partnership with people who do not have adequate housing and who desire to own a home. Homes are built with money and labor donated by people in the community. No government funding is used.

Habitat builds basic, practical homes and sells them at cost to the chosen family. The family must repay the full cost of the home to Habitat, through a 0% mortgage. All income from those house payments is used to build more homes.

All applications received will be reviewed by the Family Selection Committee. Those families considered to be eligible will be visited and interviewed by the committee. The committee recommends families to the Board of Directors who makes the final decision.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide organization that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, creed, national origin, disability, age, family or marital status. Families are selected according to the following criteria:

1. Lack of adequate shelter due to such factors as substandard physical or structural conditions, insufficient space for the family's needs, unsafe or unsuitable environment.
2. Adequate income to cover the costs of the taxes, utilities, insurance, maintenance, expenses and monthly house payments.
3. Willingness to participate as a partner in the Habitat for Humanity endeavor, including contributing 500 hours of labor, attending homeowner workshops and seminars as needed, making house payments on time and maintaining the house in good condition.
4. Ability to demonstrate past history of handling credit obligations appropriately.
5. Minimum income guidelines & ability to pay for a Habitat Home: The family must demonstrate they are able to make monthly house payments as well as existing debt payments. Therefore, the total of the home-related expenses (mortgage and the escrow payment) may not be greater than 30% of the family gross monthly income, and home-related expenses plus all other debt payments may not be greater than 40% of family monthly gross income.
6. The maximum gross family income may not be more than 80% of the Median Income as published on the website for HUD (http://www.hud.gov):

As of February 2012

Family Size	Maximum Gross Income
1	$32,850
2	$37,550
3	$42,250
4	$46,900
5	$50,700
6	$54,450
7	$58,200
8	$61,950

Please print and complete the Habitat Application for Housing and the Arbor House Release. Mail the completed forms to:

Chemung County Habitat for Humanity
P.O. Box 3110
Elmira, NY 14905