Homeowner Criteria

How does it work?

DC Habitat for Humanity uses tax-deductible donations of money and materials as well as volunteer labor and “sweat equity” done by applicants to build homes. Houses are sold to low income residents of the nation’s capital through a no profit, no interest mortgage that is paid by the homeowner in monthly payments over 25-30 years. DCHFH uses these payments to build more homes.

Eligible Homeowner Applicants

• Are US citizens or permanent resident aliens
• Have an income that is within DC Habitat's eligibility range (see chart below)
• Work 300 hours of “sweat equity” building their own home and those of their Habitat neighbors
• Attend homeowner education workshops
• Pay a $500 down payment, closing costs, and a 25 year mortgage with monthly principle payments of approximately $450*.

* This amount is principle only. Homeowners insurance and property taxes will be added to this amount.

DC Habitat for Humanity Income Range - Updated on 6/3/2007

Program Requirements

• Applicants must first attend an orientation workshop. The workshop provides an opportunity for interested people to learn about DCHFH and meet members of the Family Selection Committee, board of directors, staff and current DCHFH homeowners. Applications are available only to those who attend an orientation workshop. If you are interested in owning a home and wish to attend a future orientation workshop, please email your name, address, phone number and preferred email address to info@dchabitat.org. If email is not available to you, please send your contact information (including address) to DC Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 43565 Washington, DC 20010 stating your interest in becoming a homeowner.

• Potential applicants who think that they may be eligible submit the required documents to the DCHFH office (proof of income, proof or DC residency, and other documents), plus an acknowledgement that DC Habitat will need to obtain the applicant’s credit report. The DCHFH Family Selection Committee will review all documents.

• Those who meet the preliminary eligibility criteria will be invited to meet with a housing counselor to complete an application. Applicants will provide additional documents about their income, credit history, and other relevant information as proof that the applicant meets DC Habitat’s requirements for home ownership. Applicants must also pay the required fee and sign an authorization for us to acquire their credit report.

• The Family Selection Committee will then review the applications, and those who best fit DC Habitat’s requirements will receive a home visit by the Family Selection Committee.

• Based upon the application and the home visit, the Family Selection Committee will identify the most qualified applicants and present them to the DCHFH Board of Directors for consideration. The committee will then notify all applicants of the results.

• The successful applicants will be granted “conditional approval” for home ownership at this stage and assigned to one of the houses scheduled for construction. To complete the approval process, candidates must also complete the following three steps:
  

  The applicant then begins working on “sweat equity” by participating in home building or other DCHFH activities. Applicants must complete 300 hours of “sweat equity” prior to moving in (200 of these hours must be completed by the applicant her/himself; the remaining 100 hours can be completed by the applicant’s family members or friends).

  While completing sweat equity and working toward homeownership, the homeowner candidates must complete the required homeowner education classes. These classes are designed to inform and empower participants as homeowners and consumers.

  The homeowner candidate must make a $500 down payment and complete the required 300 hours of “sweat equity” in addition to paying the closing costs by the time the house is sold to them.