Family Resources

Habitat of Seattle/South King County is committed to building decent, affordable homes for families in need.  Habitat is not a giveaway program.  Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor - sweat equity - into building their Habitat house and they pay a no-profit, no-interest mortgage. 

Habitat is committed to not just getting families into houses, but also working with them to assure that their home ownership experience is positive and successful over the long term. Families are trained and supported in a variety of skills: basic construction skills to assist in the building of their house; home maintenance skills; various home improvement and interior design skills; neighborhood involvement and cooperation skills; budgeting and consumer awareness skills; and others as the need arises.

FAMILY SELECTION CRITERIA: 2009 guidelines

Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County believes and insists on nondiscriminatory family selection criteria for all homeowner families. Homebuyers applying to Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County must meet the following criteria:

1. Demonstrate a need for adequate and affordable housing:

• Presently living in overcrowded, run-down, defective, or unsafe housing.
• Currently paying over 30% of gross income on housing expenses.

2. Demonstrate ability to pay:

• Family’s gross income must fall within income guidelines. A family’s gross income must fall between 25% and 60% of King County’s median income. The average monthly payment for a Habitat for Humanity house is $600-900.
• Family’s total debt (house payment plus all others) must be no more than 40%of family’s gross income.
• Applicant families must be credit worthy. Any bankruptcies filed during the past year must be reconciled and all liens or judgments must be paid in full before purchasing a Habitat home.

Income Guidelines for families:

• 1-member family: $14,250-$34,200
• 2-member family: $16,275-$39,060
• 3-member family: $18,325-$43,980
• 4-member family: $20,350-$48,840
• 5-member family: $21,975-$52,740
• 6-member family: $23,600-$56,640
• 7-member family: $25,225-$60,540
• 8-member family: $26,850-$64,440
• 9-member family: $27,250-$54,500
• 10-member family: $28,800-$57,600
• 11-member family: $30,350-$60,700

3. Show a willingness to partner:

• Each family selected to purchase a home from Habitat for Humanity of Seattle/South King County invests in the Habitat program by working 500 hours (250 hours for families with 1 adult) helping to build homes, attending classes such as homeowner maintenance and budgeting, or other Habitat work as arranged.
• Participate in publicity about Habitat.
• Honesty: all information that is requested, is provided and is true. Withholding or falsifying information will result in the application being rejected. The volunteer Family Selection Team verifies information on homebuyer applications, including: income, current rent, relationship with landlord, and account status with utility companies. They also check personal references and any criminal background.

4. Additional criteria:

• Lived or worked in King County at least a year, and currently a legal resident of the United States.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of:

• Race or color
• National origin
• Religion
• Sex
• Familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18)
• Handicap