Housing

Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa (HFHCI) builds homes using volunteer labor and local resources, and sells them to qualified home buyer families with 0% interest mortgages, at no profit. Future Habitat homeowners are determined by their completed applications that include verification of employment, bank balances, public assistance, rental history, and credit references. Applicant information is confidential. Habitat homes are completed from 6-18 months after the family is selected. The completion date depends on Habitat’s fundraising success and volunteer availability, and home buyer family’s readiness.   Habitat cannot guarantee we will be able to build in the community of buyers’ choice. Location depends on the cost and availability of lots.

How can I apply to become a Home Buyer Family? Habitat for Humanity encourages anyone who can truthfully answer “yes” to the following four questions to consider applying to become a home buyer family. However, answering “yes” to these questions does not guarantee you will qualify or be selected.

1. Have you lived or worked in Story, Hamilton, or Hardin County for the past six months?

2. Do you have a need for adequate housing? Need for adequate housing may be characterized by the following:

Monthly payments that are too high
Housing that is too small
Housing or neighborhoods that are unsafe
Housing that is in poor repair
Inability to qualify for other mortgage financing or homeownership programs
Total household income from all sources within the following guidelines

3. Do you have finacial stability?   This may be characterized by the following:

Proven ability to regularly pay bills on time
No bankruptcies in the last 12 months
No outstanding liens and judgments
You will allow HFHCI to verify your income, debt and credit history
Existing debt is less than 20% of income
U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

4. Are you willing to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa?
    This may be characterized by the following:

Willingness to volunteer up to 450 hours of your time to HFHCI
Willingness to have your family’s name and new house location shared with the public, and your pictures used for publicity
Willingness to attend homebuyer and homeowner education programs, such as budgeting and maintenance

How Do I Apply?   If you can answer yes to those four quesitons, please monitor this website.   When an application period is open, it will be posted on the main page.   At that time, you will be required to come to the office to pick up an application.

Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa
3504 Grand Avenue
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: 515-232-8815

HFHCI’s process is governed by equal opportunity housing and lending laws. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibits denying anyone housing on the basis of race, sex, creed, marital status, color or national origin and those factors are not used.