Family Selection Criteria

Families must meet the following requirements in order to partner with Avery County Habitat for Humanity:

Residency:  You must be a US citizen or permanent legal resident and reside in Avery County for at least one year.

Rent History: You must have a good rental history, living independently for at least one year.

Need: You currently live in inadequate housing, pay more than 30% of your monthly income for rent, or been unable to qualify for a conventional mortgage loan.

Credit: A reasonably good credit history with no unresolved judgments and a record of timely payment of bills is required. We will check your credit history through a credit report.

Willingness to Partner: You are required to accrue a minimum of 250 hours of sweat equity per adult in your family, attend Homeowners’ Education classes and participate in various Habitat events. You are required to pay monthly toward a down payment that will be used to pay closing costs on the home.

Criminal Background: Any family member 16 years and older will be considered an adult with regards to criminal records checks. No application will be considered if any adult member of the household has been convicted of drug solicitation in the last three years. No family will be considered for the program if there is any individual who will be occupying the house that has been convicted of a sexual crime.

Documentation: At the time of your appointment, please bring:

• Drivers’ licenses for all family drivers
• Social Security for all family members
• Income verification – payroll stubs for the most recent 30 days for all workers and/or award letters of other income
• Rent receipts or lease documents
• Last 2 months’ bank statements
• All of your monthly expenses (electric, phone, cable, insurance, etc.)
• Last filed IRS 1040 tax form and W-2’s
• Car title, if you have it, or a payment receipt

Ability to Pay:  You must have a steady income source for at least one year.Your gross annual income should fall within the amounts on the table Below