Habitat Requirements

If you would like to apply for Habitat for Humanity housing, or you know someone who might qualify, we encourage you to get to know the program. If it is right for you, it could be the opportunity of a lifetime.

Please read the following information and contact us:

We build simple, affordable homes

Habitat homes are built to meet a family's needs. We will consider the number of bedrooms a family needs, any special health or handicap needs a family might have, and any special needs the building site demands. Habitat homes do not usually come with garages, fencing, garbage disposals, etc., unless there is a special need for them.

Our homes are simple, but they are well built and easy to maintain. The quality of our homes meets or exceeds all building code requirements. We make our homes affordable in both the original cost and for the life of the home because they are energy efficient and low maintenance.

Qualifying for a Habitat Home

A successful applicant must:

• Have a need for housing When all of the following qualifications have been met, Habitat for Humanity selects the applicants whom we feel have the greatest need.

• Be a willing partner in our work We require that our home owners invest 400 to 600 hours of their own time in our work. That can include working on their own home or other homes, or by doing something like office work or fundraising. We also require that home owners participate in our Family Partner training classes, which teach about the documents required for home ownership, property taxes and home owner insurance, home maintenance and household budgeting.

• Be able to repay the cost of their home We require that the home owner have an income that is reliable enough to anticipate being able to repay a long term debt. We also consider a household's other debts and their history of credit management. The minimum income requirement is subject to change. To see if your annual income can qualify click here.

• Not qualify for traditional home ownership loans There are many factors involved in traditional home loans so we will consider every case individually. The maximum income requirement is subject to change and adjustment.

• Provide us with information We need to have a fully completed application with responsible, factual information and your authorization to verify that information. This may include a home visit and personal interviews. We can help with the completion of forms. if you need it at any time during the application process.

• Mortgage Payments Monthly payments for Habitat homes are determined by the family's income, and they include home owners' insurance and property taxes. A home owner repays the cost of the home, with no interest charged to them. Therefore, the payment amounts vary, and the length of the mortgage varies. Typical payments range from $350 to $500 per month, and typical mortgage periods are from 15 to 30 years. We prepare a promissory note with the mortgage that has many features designed for our special way of working with home owners.

For more information: Write to:

Habitat for Humanity ofCouncil Bluffs
645 9th Ave
Council Bluffs, IA 51501
Phone: (712) 328-9476

*Note: If you are not from the Council Bluffs area, but are interested in Habitat housing, check out the Habitat for Humanity International site for a complete listing of affiliates. There may be one in your town.