We advertise and hold information sessions for potential applicants when there is a need for new Partner Families. After a family submits an application, the Family Selection Committee reviews it to see how well it meets Habitat qualifications and to determine the family's level of need. Habitat Partner Families are selected based on four main criteria:

1. Community Member
   The prospective family must have lived and/or worked within the Junction City / Harrisburg / Monroe school district boundaries for at least six months.
2. Need for adequate housing
   The family will be considered for a Habitat home if their present housing is inadequate in one of the following ways: something is unsafe or structurally wrong with the house, there is overcrowding, or they are paying too much for rent.
3. Willingness to partner with Habitat
   When selected, the family becomes a "Partner Family". They must work at least 500 "sweat equity" hours before they can move into their new home. The immediate family must earn 250 of those hours, and the other 250 hours can be credited to the family by extended family, friends, co-workers, or new volunteers who work alongside them. The hours may be earned doing construction, attending required workshops or any Habitat project. Though children are not allowed on the construction site under most circumstances, they can still contribute through other activities.
4. Ability to pay
   Since the family will be buying their home from Habitat, they must demonstrate an ability to pay the monthly mortgage payments. This payment will include not only the principle amount but also an amount set aside for property taxes and insurance. Habitat does not charge interest on its mortgages. The family will be considered if their income is between 30% and 60% of HUD's median income.

If the family's application is approved, the Family Selection Committee will recommend selection to our Board of Directors. When the family is selected as a Partner Family, the family can begin working on its "sweat equity" hours. The family is also assigned an advocate who will guide them through the Habitat program. From the time a family submits an application until they move into a home could be as long as 1-2 years.

Our family selection process is impartial. Age, sex, race, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation and religion do not play a part in the family selection process. We are looking for families with inadequate housing who are unable to buy a home of their own. We want families who will help spread the good news of Habitat to the rest of the community.

If you would like to learn more about homeownership, call us (541) 998-9548 or complete the online interest form and we will contact you before we have our next meeting.