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Housing Authority of Kittitas County <br />■ Local Hay Companies <br />Suncadia Resort <br />• Department of Social and Health Services <br />• Work Source <br />Local churches <br />Letters, emails and calls to people who have previously expressed an interest in <br />the program <br />■ Public Service Announcements on local radio stations. <br />Applicants are qualified for the program based on 3 criteria: 1) Need: 2) Ability to pay <br />a mort a g that does riot ehteed 30% ofgross monthly -in unie, The family's income <br />must fall between 30% and 60% of the area median income for Kittitas County, and 3) <br />Willingness to par#ner, demonstrated by the homeowner family/individual working <br />between 350 and 500 sweat equity hours helping build their home and by taking part <br />in homeowner education courses. To select the homeowner family/individual from a <br />group of applicants, credit and criminal background checks are made which help <br />narrow down candidates. A home visit is conducted on finalists to determine greatest <br />need. A family selection committee works together to conduct a home ownership <br />orientation — a public meeting at which the Habitat for Humanity program is <br />explained. At this meeting, the applicants submit their applications after meeting <br />with a volunteer to ask questions and review their application. The family selection <br />committee, after reviewing the applications, performing criminal and credit checks <br />and completing the home visit select the homeowner family. The family selection <br />committee makes a written recommendation to the board of directors and then the <br />board of directors vote on the selection of the family. Board approval takes place <br />within one month of the orientation meeting. Accepted families are notified <br />immediately, as are those who are not selected. <br />9. Credit worthiness of Habitat families/individuals <br />Answer: Yes, credit worthiness play a large role in the selection process. Habitat for <br />Humanity wants to see that those people selected handle money responsibly. Those <br />with good credit have been shown to have a greater chance of becoming and <br />remaining a successful homeowner. For those who do not have good credit, Habitat <br />for Humanity refers them to resources that can help them strengthen their credit. <br />10. Does Habitat always charge for the house? <br />Answer: Yes. Habitat for Humanity does not give houses away. We offer a hand -up, <br />not a hand-out. Our homeowners will never pay more than 30% of their gross income <br />toward their house payment. Most of our homeowners are not able to qualify for a <br />5 <br />