AH-2018-001 Habitat - Laserfiche WebLink

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