Own a Home

Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven offers a Homeownership Program to prepare individuals and families to purchase homes from our organization and through other avenues.

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Applicants are selected into the homeownership program based on three factors:

1. A need for housing. Spending in excess of 33% of income on rent, living in an unsafe, unmaintained, or overcrowded space, living in temporary housing, or receiving government assistance for housing all qualify as a need for housing. Other factors may be considered as each applicant has a unique living situation.
2. Willingness to partner. Participating in the Homeownership Program involves completing in-person and online educational classes, completing sweat equity hours on a Habitat build site, and working with Habitat staff members and volunteers. Open communication and working with others are necessary in this program.
3. Ability to pay an affordable mortgage and other housing expenses. During the application period and throughout the Homeownership Program we will examine financial information like income, credit and financial history, and monthly debt. The income needed to enter the program is based on the number of people in your household. Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven uses the Area Median Income for the New Haven-Meriden Metro Area as determined by HUD. Please review the chart below to determine if your income meets the requirements for the program. The chart shows a household size of up to eight people but you may apply with a household of any size.

The calculator below can help you to convert your wages to an annual income. Remember to use your gross income, what you make before taxes are taken out, to complete the calculation.

How the Homeownership Program Works

Buying a home through Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven or through another program or financial institution is an important personal and financial decision. We want you to be prepared for the commitment of homeownership and have therefore extended our program to offer more classes to more people in the community than we ever have before. Not every person who is accepted into the Homeownership Program will become a homeowner through Habitat for Humanity but everyone who participates will benefit in gaining the knowledge needed to become successful homeowners.

Step 1: Review our orientation and complete the application for the Homeownership Program. The application and required documents listed on the cover page are all required to be submitted by the deadline date and time. No exceptions will be made for missed deadlines.

Step 2: All applicants will be mailed a letter with results. This letter will inform you if you have been accepted into the Homeownership Program. Staff cannot release results in person or on the phone. Notifications take place with mail correspondence only. Applicants are responsible for keeping their addresses updated with the office.

Step 3: The Director of Family Services and Volunteer Engagement will work with you to schedule your homebuyer education classes and sweat equity hours. Some of the homebuyer education classes will be available online and may be accessed and completed at any time, other classes will be held in person. There is no deadline for the Homeownership Program requirements to be completed but you may not enter the home selection process until all required classes and sweat equity hours have been finished.

Step 4: As Habitat properties become available, individuals and families who are qualified for each home will be notified. Qualification for each home will depend on the size of the household and the income of the applicant(s). Applicants will choose if they would like to enter the home selection process for a specific property or properties.

Step 5: Qualified and interested applicants will be placed into the home selection process. An applicant will be randomly drawn and will then apply for a mortgage on that property. All individuals and families entered into the home selection process will be notified following the completion of the process.

Owning and Building a Habitat Home

If selected to purchase a home through Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven we will work with you from the kick off ceremony to the closing of the home. Each homebuyer will need to complete the sweat equity requirements and remain partners with the organization throughout the process. There will be additional homebuyer education classes that will also need to be completed prior to closing on the home. These classes will prepare you for success in owning you Habitat home.

Have more questions about the Homebuying Program? Please review our FAQs to find the answers to the most commonly asked questions.