Family Selection Process and Qualifications

Family Selection Process and Qualifications
Our family selection and home building process follows a detailed set of guidelines set out by Habitat for Humanity International. We build low-cost homes only to families who meet those requirements and are willing to abide by Habitat’s rules and regulations. Partner Families” must qualify for a Habitat home. They must be low-income, gainfully employed, and credit worthy individuals with a need for adequate and affordable housing. Once qualified, the Family Selection Committee will carefully select families by focusing on those with the most immediate need. In addition to meeting the most recent income qualifications partner families must also meet these qualifications:

•Must not have owned a home in the past three years
•Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
•Two years of steady income history
•Two years of good rental history within Dallas County
•Acceptable credit history
•Ability to pay a mortgage of approximately $450-$550 a month, plus utilities
•Ability to work “sweat equity” hours helping build Habitat homes (250 hours for single-parent families; 350 hours for two-parent families)
•Attend two Family Information Meetings (If married, both husband and wife must attend)
•$1,000 for first year’s taxes and insurance
 
Applications for new homes are provided at our periodic Family Selection Information Meetings. These meetings are held approximately every eighteen to twenty-four months. After carefully reviewing qualification requirements, interested families should send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to our office at the address below. Once a date and location are determined, meeting notifications will be mailed 2-3 weeks prior to our next meeting.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Garland
1110 Main Street
Garland, Texas 75040

Here is a list of items that you will need to provide along with your application.
•Completed Income Tax Returns or IRS tax letter for the past two years
•W2 Forms for the past 2 years
•Copies of last three (3) pay stubs
•Copies of last three (3) pension/disability/AFDC/ child support checks
•Bank statements for last three (3) months, if applicable
•Copies of rent receipts or cancelled checks for the last three (3) months
•Most recent utility bills (water, electric and/or gas): City of Garland, Lone Star Gas, TXU
•Most recent telephone bill
•All credit card bills for the last three (3) months
•All liabilities/bills and account numbers for all bills you owe
•Copy of Divorce Decree, if remarried
•Divorce decree with child support order (For those paying or receiving child support)
•Divorce decree (For those claiming ex-spouse was awarded certain debts in divorce)
•Previous bankruptcy: Copy of “Discharge Papers” plus written reason for bankruptcy