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Manatee County Habitat for Humanity (MCHFH) is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International; a Christian housing nonprofit organization financed through private donations and utilizing volunteer labor.  Our purpose is to build homes with families and sell the houses at no profit and no interest (excluding closing costs) to families who could not otherwise afford a home.

Although the application period is closed, if you are interested in our homeownership program, please read the following to see  if you would meet our general requirements and familiarize yourself with the selection process:

1. 1. To qualify you must have a housing need, including but not limited to any one or more of the following: currently living in temporary housing; poor indoor plumbing or water supply; inadequate heat; a leaking roof; overcrowding (three or more to a bedroom); unsafe or unsanitary conditions, improper electrical wiring (bare wires, overloaded circuits, old wires), or you are cost burdened by housing costs (spending more than 30% of gross income on housing).
   2. To apply for a home, you need to have a gross income that falls within the income guidelines.

1. 3. You must be working in your current job for at least 1 year. Verifiable income for at least 2 years. If you are self-employed you need to have 5 years of tax returns showing adequate income. All long-term debts (including anticipated housing and utility costs) do not take up more than 43% of your gross income.
   4. You must be a Manatee County resident of at least 1 year.
   5. Applicants have less than $1,200 in non-medical collections, charged off credit accounts or judgments. This includes defaulted student loans. Must pay off all outstanding bad debts 60 days before closing. If you need to review your credit report – you can do so for free at: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action
   6. You must be working in your current job for at least 1 year. Allow us to verify your employment, salary, and other income, checking and savings account balances, review the last two years’ tax returns, and obtain a credit, sexual predator, and criminal background check.

If you are approved for a Habitat home:

1. 1. We require that partner family adults complete programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair, and maintenance. We also require that you attend the periodic Habitat for Humanity partner family/homeowner meetings.
   2. To be considered for a Manatee County Habitat home, you and your family must be willing to complete “sweat equity”.  We require that all adult members in your household (18 years and older) be willing to complete 300/500 hours of “sweat equity”.  Friends and family may help by working some of these hours.  Partner families must work a minimum of one Saturday per month during the entire time that the house is being constructed.
   3. Approximately $2,500 will be needed for a down payment and closing costs.  You will have some time to save this money before closing if you are selected.  Of this amount, $500 is required at the time of selection and execution of an Agreement of Understanding.
   4. If you are approved for a home, and if you complete and meet all family selection policy requirements, then we will sell you a home with a no-interest loan (excluding closing costs) for up to 30 years.

All information is considered confidential and is to be used only for family selection. The qualification process involves two application forms and is not complete until (a) Part I has been completed and approved,  (b) Part II  and all supporting documentation has been completed, submitted, and approved, (c) the partner family is approved by the Homeowner Service Committee, (d) sweat equity hours have been completed, and (e) a final credit check has been ordered and reviewed just prior to closing.