Ever Dream of Owning Your Own Home?

Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization that builds houses in partnership with low-income families. The houses are built with volunteer labor and sold to qualifying families at no profit, and with a no interest loan.

Listed below are the basic guidelines followed by the Family Selection Committee in finding qualifying families.


The Application Process

Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity opens and advertises application periods, usually once per year, rather than on a continuous basis. At other times of the year, a list of people who want to be notified when an application period opens is kept.

During the application period, applications are available in the Habitat office or other designated locations. Once the application period closes, the selection process begins. It involves review of completed applications, credit and reference checks, interviews and home visits.

On occasion, a qualifying applicant cannot be selected because the house will not be completed within a reasonable amount of time (within two years). In this situation, the applicants with the greatest need are selected. Qualifying applicants that are not selected are encouraged to reapply at a later date.

The Family Selection Committee selects Partner Families based on three basic things – need for improved housing, ability to pay a no interest mortgage and willingness to partner.
The selection of families who will purchase homes from Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity will be done by the Family Selection Committee using these criteria in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or because of all or part of the applicant’s income is derived from public assistance programs.

Need
You might qualify if…

Your current housing is sub-standard or too small for your basic family needs

Sub-standard housing may include problems with the water, electrical, heating or sewage systems; or does not meet maintenance standards. Also taken into consideration are the number, ages and sex of children compared to the number of bedrooms in your home.

You would have to go to sub-standard or inadequate housing if you lost your current housing assistance

Would sub-standard housing be one of your options if you lost HUD or other assistance, or if you could no longer live with a friend or relative?

You have lived in the Grand Island Area for at least one year. Requirement.

Your total family income is below the HUD low-income guideline (see below)

Family Size Income
Less Than

One - $23,160
Two - 26,520
Three - $29,820
Four - $33,120
Five - $35,760
Six - $38,400
Seven - $41,040
Eight - $43, 740

Hall Co. figures


Ability to Pay

To qualify to buy a home from Habitat, you must show you could pay the monthly mortgage payment. Your loan payment would include the house payment, real estate taxes and insurance (currently around $450 a month for a 3 bedroom home).

As an applicant, we would help you to determine if this payment would jeopardize your ability to meet all your other family financial commitments. We can also help you if you need to develop a budget.

The percentage of your monthly income that you now spend on housing is considered to determine need. All applicants are required to openly and fully discuss their financial situation with the Selection Committee. A credit report will be obtained. You are encouraged to apply even if you have had a history of late payments, but are working to get on track. Bankruptcy won’t necessarily disqualify you, however, if you have been taken to court for non-payment of bills and still have not paid them, you may be disqualified.

Willingness to Partner

To qualify you must be…
Willing to contribute 500 hours of “sweat equity” Sweat equity is the volunteer contribution that a partner family makes on their own and other Habitat homes instead of making a down payment.

Willing to take classes that will help you as a homeowner
As soon as a family is selected, the Family Support Committee will maintain an on-going relationship with them. This includes financial counseling, plus household maintenance and lawn care education.

Willing to be responsible for the maintenance and repairs of your home from the time you move in
Homes and yards must be kept in good condition to keep the value of the home and for the good of Habitat’s ministry. Volunteers are available to work with families to teach how repairs may best be handled and give home-ownership advice. Habitat for Humanity not only wants to help families into safe decent homes of their own, but also help them to be good homeowners and good neighbors.

Call 308-385-5510 or e-mail gihfh@yahoo.com for more information on how and when to apply.



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Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity • 410 W. 2nd St. #6 • P.O. Box 1001 • Grand Island, Nebraska 68802
308-385-5510 • E-mail: gihfh@yahoo.com


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