HOMEOWNERSHIP APPLICATION
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A HABITAT HOME?
If all the items below are true, then you may qualify for our homeownership opportunities:
- RESIDENCY You are a documented resident of the United States who lives, works or attends school in one of the 42 cities and towns throughout our service area in MetroWest and Greater Worcester. View our service are towns and cities below.
- FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER (at least one potential co-applicant has not owned a home for at least three years).
- FAMILY SIZE Your family size matches the specific home we are building (Families must have at least one person per bedroom, but no more than two people per bedroom. Children of the opposite sex cannot share a bedroom and same-sex children who share a bedroom must be no more than five years apart in age).
- APPLICANT INCOME Your annual income falls between 30 and 60% of the Area Median Income Range for your family size in Middlesex County or Worcester County.
HOMEOWNERSHIP EVALUATION
Once we verify that your family meets all the qualifications listed to the left, you will be evaluated based on three main areas:
- NEED: You have a need for affordable housing, or your family income is insufficient to afford a conventional mortgage (i.e., your current housing is overcrowded, unsafe, or too expensive, costing more than 50% of your income)
- ABILITY TO PAY: You must have secure employment, good credit and/or a willingness to partner to build good credit, and the ability to afford low-interest, monthly mortgage payments (through a third-party lender of your choice).
- WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER: You are willing to partner with Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester to become a successful homeowner. (Examples of partnership include participation in homeownership courses and completion of 300 sweat equity hours working in our affiliate ReStores, on your own Habitat home or this affiliate’s Habitat for Humanity projects).
The Family Selection Committee uses the criteria to select families in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, marital status or because all or part of the applicant’s income is derived from public assistance. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there is no discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, age, or national origin.
*Our Service Area: Ashland, Auburn, Barre, Boylston, Brookfield, Charlton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Framingham, Grafton, Holden, Holliston, Hopkinton, Leicester, Marlborough, Millbury, Natick, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Sherborn, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wayland, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough, and Worcester.
Hear From Habitat Partner Families
Folly, Shaina, and Family, Habitat Homeowners in Worcester, April 2024: “Our current living situation is very cramped and stressful, living in an apartment on the 4th floor. Walking up to the top floor with an infant (soon to be a toddler), as well as a two-year old can be extremely overwhelming and chaotic at times. Once inside our apartment, I try to keep the kids busy with quiet games and activities to be mindful of our neighbors downstairs. But kids will be kids, and can get rowdy at times. We believe with a home of our own, we will have more space, producing a less stressful environment, as well as easy access to our home, making it easier to transport the kids to activities.”
- Yaritza and Family, Habitat Homeowners in Worcester, April 2024: “This will be an amazing feeling for my kids and I. I can give my kids a place we can call ours, and have my children look forward to a better future, knowing that we can do better for ourselves.” Yaritza is a single Mom of 5 children. The apartment they share now is cramped, the children share bedrooms, and there is no room to store clothes or toys. One of her children has Down Syndrome that requires extra space for the needed necessities. Yaritza looks forward to having more freedom for herself and her children to live the lives they always dreamed of. Among so many other things, she’s looking forward to family dinners and holidays where she’ll be able to have a table big enough for all of them.
Sophie, Habitat Homeowner in Worcester: “Habitat For Humanity changed our quality of life. Every single donation, every single person who made our dream a reality is an angel. My husband served Honorably in the Marine Corps, and what we have gotten in return for his service has been life changing. We are forever grateful. Strangers became saviors. There are no words to express our Thanks. Hopefully the smile on our boys’ faces tells you, even if they don’t have the words. All of our Best to all of you Angels. Be well, friend.”
Maggie, Habitat Homeowner in Holliston, September 2018: “Having a home gives you a confidence boost, freedom, and strength. It is a cozy place to live and enjoy the things we like, whether it’s a garden with flowers, or healthy herbs.”
