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; budgeting and consumer awareness skills; and others as the need arises.

 

FAMILY SELECTION CRITERIA: Current 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 30% 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 3 years must be reconciled and all liens or judgments must be paid in full before purchasing a Habitat home.

2012 Income Guidelines:

Family Size of:	Minimum Income Needed:	Maximum Income Allowed: 60%
1	$18,500	$36,960
2	$21,150	$42,240
3	$23,800	$47,520
4	$26,400	$52,800
5	$28,550	$57,024
6	$30,650	$61,248
7	$32,750	$65,472
8	$34,850	$69,696
9	$36,950	$72,920
10	$39,050	$78,144

 

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 completing a minimum of 400 hours sweat equity (200 hours for families with 1 adult) helping to build homes, attending classes such as homeowner maintenance and budgeting, or other Habitat work as arranged.
• Families also participate in raising awareness about Habitat through participating in events and telling their story.
• 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.  Withholding or falsifying information will result in the application being rejected.
  

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

To Get Started:

Individuals and families interested in owning a Habitat home in Seattle must first complete pre-purchase counseling through HomeSight. Attendance at The HomeSight Program class followed by a one-on-one meeting with a HomeSight counselor are required.  Once participants have completed the pre-purchase counseling they will, if eligible, be nominated to Habitat for Humanity Seattle/South King County by the HomeSight counselor. To sign-up for The HomeSight Program class, please visit HomeSight's website at www.homesightwa.org or call (206) 723-4355 for more information on upcoming classes. 

Individuals and families interesting in owning a Habitat home in South King County should contact Family Services Manager Lakesha Knatt at 206.292.5240 ext. 106 or check our home page for upcoming orientation meetings.

Habitat Homeowner Tells Her Story

Meet homeowner, Christine Vanderwerf.  Christine gave a heartfelt and endearing speech during our 2009 Building Houses, Building Hope Breakfast!

Thanks to our generous Habitat supporters, we raised over $230,000! These gifts enable us to provide more affordable housing to low-income families. Christine will move into her new home at High Point - Phase 2B in the near future.