Greater New Haven Habitat for Humanity
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Becoming a Habitat Homeowner

Thank you for your interest in Habitat for Humanity’s Homeownership program. While the journey to homeownership may be a long one, it will be worthwhile. Habitat makes applications to our homeownership program available from time to time, as we continue to build homes.

Habitat’s mission is to eliminate poverty housing by building simple, decent houses for God’s people in need. Habitat seeks to work with those who would not be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage and would have no other way to be able to own a home of their own.

Habitat’s homeownership program is based upon the concept of partnership. Habitat’s commitment to that partnership is to build a simple, decent house and sell it with a 0% interest mortgage, as well as to provide families with the necessary education to become long-term successful homeowners. Partner families commit to completing 400 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build their own and other Habitat homes, following program guidelines and to repaying the mortgage.

If you are interested in becoming a Habitat homeowner, please call the Habitat office at 203-785-0794 to request an information packet (the packet is available in English and Spanish). After carefully reviewing the information, please determine whether you are eligible for our homebuyers program as outlined in Requirements for Homeownership Applicants.

The application process consists of completion of the application form, credit check, an office interview, fourteen (14) hours of volunteer work, and a home interview.

There are several things that you can do to prepare yourself for homeownership:

  1. Request a copy of your credit report. If there are any issues that you need to address, it is a good idea to begin soon. If you need assistance with credit issues, contact Consumer Credit Counseling Services at 1-800-208-2227.
  2. Shop around. There are a number of housing programs in New Haven that may also be able to assist you. Each housing program is different, and we encourage you to compare what each has to offer, so that you can find the route to homeownership that best meets your needs.
  3. Open a savings account. When purchasing a home, a down payment and closing costs are part of the process. Moving expenses, emergency home repairs, etc. are all steps that require a significant amount of money. Planning ahead with a savings account is one way to prepare for all the costs that lie ahead.