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Q1: How can
I qualify to buy a Habitat of Cleveland home?
Q2: How long is the waiting list for prospective homebuyers?
A: Upon approval, the period before construction begins on your
home could be as short as a month. It may be longer, depending on
available properties and other factors. This information will be
reviewed with each approved homebuyer individually.
Q3: I know someone who I think will qualify for a home. What
can I do?
A: Please share the information from this site with them, and encourage
them to register for an information meeting (typically held once
a month) by calling the office at + 423 476 6947. It won't cost
anything more than a small amount of their time.
Q4: What if I have bad credit, such as bankruptcy?
A: We do not look for perfect credit -- as long as your financial
history shows a consistency in paying bills on time, the application
will be considered. Bankruptcies, garnishments, or repossessions
from four or more years ago will not automatically keep your application
from being approved.
Q5: Do I have to have a savings account?
A: No. Checking accounts and custodial accounts for your children
can be used to satisfy the savings requirement. In addition, 401k
or other retirement accounts are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
However, it is recommended that you open a savings account if you
do not have one already.
Q6: Can I apply for the program if I have more than $200 in savings
now, but not consistently for the past six months?
A: Yes. We offer a "Step Up Savings" Program for applicants
who meet all requirements except for savings.
Q7: How many people must be in a family to qualify for a home?
A: At least two, but not more than eight.
Q8: Do homebuyers need to be members of a Church?
A: No, we do not accept or decline applications based on church
membership or religious affiliation.
Q9: Why do you help people in foreign countries when there is
more than enough work to do in Cleveland?
A: In the words of the 17th century philosopher John Comenius,
"We are all citizens of the world…. Let us have but one
end in view - the welfare of humanity." Together, Habitat's
vision of a world with no more shacks can be realized.
Q10: Does Cleveland Habitat donate any money to Habitat International?
A: Cleveland Habitat, as an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity
International, tithes 10% of its unrestricted cash donations to
Habitat International. Habitat International uses the money to support
its operations and foreign mission work.
Q11: Does Habitat for Humanity give houses away?
A: Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat for Humanity builds
houses with those in need and then sells the houses to homeowner
partners. Mortgage payments can be kept affordable for families
unable to obtain conventional financing for a home through low down
payments, no-profit/no-interest loans, and volunteer manpower. Habitat
homeowners typically have incomes that are 25-50 percent of the
median area income. Homeowner's are required to invest 300-500 hours
of "sweat equity" - time spent building on their own house
or other Habitat houses. Habitat applicants must meet specific criteria.
Q12: What is sweat equity?
A: Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (sweat
equity) into building their own home and the homes of others. Sweat
equity helps reduce the cost of the home, increases the personal
stake of the family members in their home, and fosters the development
of partnerships with other people in the community.
Q13: Where does the money to build a home come from?
A: Individuals and organizations donate money that is used
to purchase land and materials. Habitat is not a government agency.
We depend on your contributions to pay the bills.
Q14: Why is Habitat needed?
A: There are three main reasons for the affordable housing crisis
in America:
1) the rise in home construction costs,
2) the decrease in real wages,
3) and the loss of millions of affordable apartments during the
past 20 years." -The Low Income Housing Information Service,
march 1995.
The causes of substandard housing and homelessness are many. Millions
of people are displaced due to war, famine and natural disasters.
Millions more languish in the poverty and squalor in much of the
developing world. In the United States, the wages of low-income
families have not kept pace with rising rent and mortgage requirements,
while at the same time many low-cost housing units have either been
abandoned or demolished, or have been converted into higher-cost
units.
Q15: How does it work?
A: Habitat builds simple, decent homes through volunteer labor
and tax deductible donations of money and materials, with the help
of the homeowner families. Habitat homes are sold at no profit,
then financed with affordable no-interest loans. The homeowners'
monthly mortgage payments are recycled into a revolving Fund for
Humanity which supports the program and construction of new homes.
Q16: Does Habitat for Humanity build only in cities or only
in rural areas?
A: Habitat through local affiliates is at work in large and
small cities, in suburbs and rural areas, in highly developed countries
and in those with emerging economies.
With poverty housing being so widespread, Habitat's work goes on
365 days a year, in hundreds upon hundreds of locations throughout
the United States and around the globe. In 2000, a Habitat house
was completed somewhere in the world about every 38 minutes.
Q17: Do Habitat homeowners sell their houses and make a large
profit because of the original low cost?
A: Habitat founder and president Millard Fuller addresses this
issue in his book, "A Simple, Decent Place to Live: The Building
Realization of Habitat for Humanity" (Word Publishing, 1995):
"In the two decades of Habitat for Humanity... we have had
no history of people selling their houses. Why? Because it's so
hard for these families to get the houses in the first place. It's
like an impossible dream come true.
The fact that they can make a profit is not even an issue because
they realize that if they sell it, they won't have a house anymore.
And they wouldn't be able to make payments the way the world would
demand on a new one, since the bank or someone else attempting to
make a big profit would now be the lender." Special second
mortgages that are 'paid off' by living in the house, as well as
first buy-back option clauses that many affiliates put into their
agreement with homeowners also help alleviate concerns that some
people may have in this area.
Q18: Do Habitat houses lower neighborhood property values?
A: Many studies of low-cost housing show that affordable housing
has no adverse effect on other neighborhood property values. In
fact, Habitat for Humanity has seen its approach to affordable housing
improve neighborhoods and communities by strengthening community
spirit, increasing the tax base, and creating conscientious citizens
through the cooperative efforts involved in Habitat construction.
Q19: You have to be a Christian to become a Habitat homeowner,
house sponsor or volunteer.
A: Habitat for Humanity was founded as, and remains, a Christian
ministry. However, homeowners are chosen without regard to creed,
both in keeping with the requirements of the law and Habitat's belief
that God's love extends to all, regardless of race, creed or nationality.
Habitat also welcomes volunteers from all faiths or no faith who
can actively embrace Habitat's goal of eliminating poverty housing
from the world.
Q20: Are Habitat homeowners on welfare?
A: While some Habitat homeowners may receive public assistance,
almost all have full time jobs and are hard working. Habitat for
Humanity works in good faith with people who often are at risk in
society, knowing that owning a home is not the answer to every problem,
but can be an important step often the first step - toward helping
people break out of the cycle of poverty.
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