every child
deserves a safe place to grow upThe application period is now open! You can pick up applications at the Oak Harbor Store or in the Oak Harbor Admin Office.
Everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to call home
A safe and affordable home is the foundation of a better life, a healthy family, and a strong community. Habitat for Humanity of Island County provides a hand-up, not a hand-out, to families struggling to attain safe, stable, and affordable housing. At the end of the process, Habitat homeowners not only gain a home, they gain the strength, stability, and self-reliance that homeownership provides.
Eligibility Requirements
Every Habitat homeowner meets the same, basic requirements: residency, need, financial ability, and willingness to help build your home.
Residency
Applicants must live or work in Island County, be a permanent, legal resident of the United States, and use the home they purchase as their primary residence.
Need
Potential homeowner must show that they have a current need for improved housing. This need can be demonstrated by a lack of space/overcrowded housing, current rent that is more than 50% of the family’s monthly income, unsafe living conditions, a dangerous environment, lack of or problems with major utilities, general structural problems, or other conditions that make your current home inadequate.
Ability to Pay a Mortgage
Habitat for Humanity provides home buyers with affordable mortgages that do not exceed 30% of the family’s monthly income. Applicants must have a steady source of income and demonstrate financial responsiblity — generally determined by credit history.
Potential homebuyers should be earning between thirty and eighty percent of Island County’s Average Median Income (AMI) based on family size.
Willingness to Partner
All future homeowners complete 250 hours of “sweat equity” per adult who will be on the loan documents as part of the down-payment on their home. These hours may be a combination time spent helping build your home, helping on another homebuyer’s home, working in the Habitat Store, or volunteering in our adiministrative office.
How to become a Habitat Homeowner
You’ve already taken the first step towards becoming a Habitat homebuyer, just by visiting this website. Official applications are only accepted during open application periods when a home is ready to be built or purchased. If you believe you meet the basic eligibility requirements, we ask you to take the following steps::
- Complete the Interest Form online or print and submit to the Family Services Manager.
- You will be added to our interest list and will be among the first to receive an application packet and notified when an open application period begins.
- During an open application period, submit a completed application and all required supporting documentation to the Family Services Manager.
- HFHIC will evaluate all applications for eligibility for the home buyer program. Qualified applicants will be presented to the board of directors for approval to the program.