Apply for a Home

Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity is a partnership of individuals, businesses, churches, organizations and families of low resources. It is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), a not-for-profit ecumenical Christian housing ministry committed to eliminating substandard housing throughout the world. CVHH is financed through private donation and utilizes volunteer labor.

Habitat is a helping hand, not a hand out. The only thing given away is opportunity. To keep homes affordable we use as much volunteer labor and discounted or donated materials as possible. A rehabilitated or new unit is then sold at no interest to a family whose annual income does not allow them conventional financing, but who can afford to buy and maintain their own home if the price and terms are right.
 

1. Need for improved housing must exist. This evaluation includes condition of the applicant’s current residence involving safety, space issues and / or affordability. Applicant must also be a resident of our service area for a minimum of one year.
2. There must be sufficient stable, verifiable household income in order to make monthly payments on principal and to a tax & insurance escrow account and a maintenance savings account. There can be no outstanding credit issues. Stable length of employment means a minimum of one year in current job location.
3. Applicant must demonstrate willingness to partner. Partnership activity begins after confirmation of approval of the application by the Board of Directors. Partnership means that the approved applicant will attend programming to learn and practice budgeting, home repair and maintenance. We currently require attendance at the MidAmerica Housing Partnership Home Buyer Workshop to satisfy this requirement.

2007 Income Guidelines for Residents of Linn County
Based Upon A Family Size Of	Least Amount of Income (30% of Median)	Most Amount of Income (50% of Median)
One	$14,200	$23,600
Two	$16,200	$27,000
Three	$18,250	$30,350
Four	$20,250	$33,750
Five	$21,850	$36,400
Six	$23,500	$39,100
Seven	$25,100	$41,800
Eight	$26,750	$44,500

2007 Income Guidelines for Residents of Benton County
Based Upon A Family Size Of	Least Amount of Income (30% of Median)	Most Amount of Income (50% of Median)
One	$12,700	$21,200
Two	$14,500	$24,200
Three	$16,350	$27,250
Four	$18,150	$30,250
Five	$19,600	$32,650
Six	$21,050	$35,100
Seven	$22,500	$37,500
Eight	$23,950	$39,950

All adults (and dependents 15 years & older) are also required to fulfill the commitment of sweat equity, the hands-on work of Habitat. 300 hours are required for a 1- adult family and 400 hours are required for a 2-adult family. 150 of those hours are to be completed by the family prior to an address being assigned. Then, a portion of the total hours required can be performed on site by extended family (15 years & older) and friends.

Habitat families may be families of one or of many. Through their commitment to partnership, the partner family supports Habitat’s activities through 300-400 volunteer hours and agrees to continue that partnership through responsible payments and home maintenance. Families first work with the Family Selection Committee as applicants. Following acceptance families work with a member of the Family Support Committee through their first year of homeownership.

Application Process
If you are interested in Habitat and if you believe you qualify for a home according to the above guidelines, we encourage you contact our office for an application. The applicant selection process is impartial. Race, ethnic origin, color, religion, marital status, sex and age are not considered and therefore play no part in the decision.

Complete the application form and mail it to the Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity Office (PO Box 1244, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406). All information is considered confidential and is used only in the applicant selection process.

Your application will be forwarded to the Family Selection Committee for review. The initial assessment will involve a careful review of your income, current debt and credit history. We will verify employment and other income, verify checking and savings account balances, get statements from your current and previous landlords, obtain a credit report and will ask you for credit references.

Progress of review continues with contact from the Family Selection Committee to schedule a date for a visit in your current residence. Upon completion of the review process by the committee, an approved application is presented to the Board of Directors at their monthly meeting for their final review and confirmation. Once approved, a partner family is required to make a down payment of $250.00 prior to the closing date for the home.

This process can vary in length from a few months to several depending on the complexity of the application in question and the flow of communication between the applicant and the committee. We encourage you to be patient with this process, which will progress in as timely a manner as possible. If you have any questions please contact the CVHH office.