How do I Become a Habitat Partner Family?

Partner Family applicants must:

• Complete and submit a full application and all supporting materials.
• Once the application is reviewed, the Applicant must attend an orientation session with the Family Team at Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity

Applications will be mailed out only.

Habitat Homeowners
Habitat homeowners are called Partner Families because our program is a unique partnership involving selection, training in home construction and finances, mortgage guidance, home maintenance, and volunteering to help other families.
Partner Family applicants participate in a rigorous evaluation process and are selected based on
three criteria:

Need for Adequate Housing
Families must be currently living in substandard housing.

Willingness to Partner
Families must be willing to partner with Habitat, investing up to 500 hours of what is called “sweat equity” in volunteering, home construction and training including budget management, financial literacy, and home maintenance. 

Ability to Pay
The homeowner’s income must be between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income.  Selected families must display the ability to pay a no-profit, no interest mortgage consistently over time.

Those who move forward in the process will interview with our Family Selection Committee in a home visit.  

The Committee evaluates:

• The structural integrity of an applicant family's current dwelling
• The size of their living quarters
• Neighborhood safety  
• The applicant’s willingness to partner
• The applicant's background
• If family income, credit and employment history falls within our program guidelines