COURT HOUSE – Habitat for Humanity Cape May County will be holding three homeowner/partner application events in February & March, 2016:
- Feb. 27 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Sword of Fire Christian Church, 402 Adams Ave, Woodbine
- Feb. 29 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Lower Township Library, 2600 Bayshore Rd, Villas
- March 5 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Center, 207 West Main St, Whitesboro, Middle Township
We are seeking new qualified families for homes to be built in Cape May County in 2016 and 2017. It is important to note that Habitat for Humanity is NOT a giveaway program. Partner families purchase homes directly from Habitat Cape May via zero-interest mortgages, and make monthly mortgage payments, including property taxes and insurance.
At the application events, Habitat volunteers and staff will be available to assist prospective homeowners in filling out preliminary applications to be considered for a Habitat for Humanity home in Cape May County. Applicants may arrive at any time during the event, and should expect to spend 30-45 minutes completing the application. All interested prospective homeowners are encouraged to attend one of the three events, in order to ensure their applications are completed in full and included in the applicant pool. All completed applications will then be screened for basic eligibility, and families who are eligible will be invited for a follow-up interview where tax returns and other documentation will be reviewed.
Habitat for Humanity is committed to a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing partner families. Partner families are always selected based on three factors: their level of need, an ability to pay a monthly mortgage, and willingness to partner with Habitat. Applicants are required to meet several qualifications to ensure success.
- Be U.S. citizens or legal residents.
- Prove steady income.
- Earn a monthly income that falls within minimum and maximum limits
based upon household size. Approximate minimum family income is currently $25K per year, and maximum is $37K per year for a family of four.
- Demonstrate a current need for adequate housing.
In addition, each partner family will be required to:
- Invest sweat-equity hours in building his/her home and those of others.
- Make an affordable down payment and timely mortgage payments.
- Complete homeowner education classes.
Habitat Cape May requires that partner families contribute 300 hours of “sweat equity” into building their Habitat home and the houses of others. The initial application for housing requires information about current housing conditions, employment and finances (monthly income, bills, assets, and debt). Habitat Cape May targets families with maximum incomes of 50% of the HUD median family income for Cape May County, or families earning approximately $37K per year or less (for family of four). Mortgage payments for Habitat homes in Cape May County, including property taxes and insurance, are roughly $650 per month. These monthly mortgage payments are then used by Habitat to finance the building of more Habitat houses.
Habitat for Humanity Cape May County is an Equal Opportunity Lender, and does not discriminate against any individual or family because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or presence of children in the household. Reasonable accommodations will be offered to all disabled persons who request accommodations due to a disability at any time during the application and homeowner selection process. Families affected by Super Storm Sandy are encouraged to apply.
Homeowner applications are also available online at habitatcapemay.org. Any mailed applications must be received by March 15, 2016.
For additional information, Habitat Cape May: 609-463-0244
