Habitat is actively seeking partner families who are in need of housing, who are ready to work, and who are excited about the responsibilities of owning a home of their own!

Our selection criterion mainly focuses on a family’s current need for housing and their financial ability to own and care for a simple, decent house. We offer a “hand up – not a hand out” as each partner family works alongside our volunteers during the construction process and then purchases the house from Habitat without profit based on a mortgage without interest.

Preliminary partner family qualifications include:

• Must live or work in Franklin County (PA) for one year.
• Must have income within the HUD range as determined by Pennsylvania.
• Must give evidence of a good credit history.
• Must be willing to invest sweat equity during the construction process.

 



Read the story of the Habitat process as experienced by one of our partner families

“Before partnering with Habitat we were living in a mobile home - Renting on the other side of town. We were having some difficulties there. Let’s be clear, we would have never been selected for a conventional mortgage but Habitat gave us a chance. I learned a lot during the sweat equity process and I’ve been able to use those same skills now as a homeowner. Our daughter was 4 when we moved in. I remember she wrote her name on one of the bedroom studs before we finished the drywall so that if we ever moved everyone would know that this was her home. This entire experience has given us the ability to have decent affordable housing – and that gives us the ability to take care of our family at the same time. The summer we were building the house was very hot and dry. About 75 volunteers showed up on July 4^th. I only knew about 4 people. We put the roof on that day. It was so humbling to figure out why they came – they didn’t even know us. It has challenged us going forward to always give back – not just to Habitat, but in other ways as well. I will always sing the praises of Habitat for Humanity!”

From – A happily housed family in Chambersburg, PA

Contact Us for more information on applying to be a homeowner!