How to Apply
Own your own home
To be eligible for a Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County’s Family Partnership housing program, the applicant(s) must have lived in substandard conditions in Whatcom County for at least one year and meet the following criteria:
Be currently living in substandard conditions or cost burdened and meet any of the following criteria:
Substandard Criteria
- Unsafe condition of the housing structure
- no or inadequate heat, plumbing, water & sewer.
- non repairable deterioration of roof and structural members
- unsafe mold or mildew, especially from frequent flood damage
- other unsafe conditions as determined by Habitat’s Construction Committee and Board of Directors
- Unsafe condition due to overcrowding
- Three or more children are sharing a bedroom or have no bedroom due to the physical restraints of the housing structure
- Children of opposite sexes are sharing a bedroom or have no bedroom due to the physical restraints of the housing structure
- Children are sharing the parent’(s) bedroom or have no bedroom due to the physical restraints of the housing structure
- Parents and children separated and living in different homes due to overcrowding.
- Unsustainable condition due to cost burden.
- Paying more than 50% of annual gross income on rent payments
- Paying more than 50 % of annual gross income on mortgage principal and interest payments
Willingness to Partner
- The applicant family must be willing to contribute at least 500 hours of volunteer time, first helping other families build their home, then building the home they intend to purchase.
- The applicant family must complete their application and provide requested support documentation in a timely manner
- The applicant family must be willing to participate in various homeowner training programs such as preventive maintenance, credit and finance, predatory lending, and budgeting
Ability and Willingness To Make Regular Monthly Mortgage Payments
- A Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County Partner Family Applicant must:
- have income ranging between 25% and 50% of Median Income (adjusted for family size) for Whatcom County.
- have a record of timely payments on indebtedness. Only Medical debt is not considered in evaluating an Applicant’s willingness and ability to pay debts as promised
- have their total debt less than 38% of their gross family income
- have their total housing cost less than 32% of their gross family income
- Make a down payment of $500 at least 90 days before the scheduled closing.
For Median Income refer to the chart below which applies only to Whatcom County Washington.
| Annual Income | Monthly Income | ||||||
| Household Size | Median | 25% | 50% | 60% | 25% | 50% | 60% |
| 1 | $44,100 | $11,025 | $22,050 | $26,460 | $919 | $1,838 | $2,205 |
| 2 | $50,400 | $12,600 | $25,200 | $30,240 | $1,050 | $2,100 | $2,520 |
| 3 | $56,700 | $14,175 | $28,350 | $34,020 | $1,181 | $2,363 | $2,835 |
| 4 | $63,000 | $15,750 | $31,500 | $37,800 | $1,313 | $2,625 | $3,150 |
| 5 | $68,000 | $17,000 | $34,000 | $40,800 | $1,417 | $2,833 | $3,400 |
| 6 | $73,100 | $18,275 | $36,550 | $43,860 | $1,523 | $3,045 | $3,655 |
| 7 | $78,000 | $19,525 | $39,050 | $46,860 | $1,627 | $3,254 | $3,905 |
| 8 | $83,200 | $20,800 | $41,600 | $49,920 | $1,733 | $3,467 | $4,160 |
Selection process
- Please Contact our office to have an application mailed to you and ask about orientation meetings being held around the county.
- Please fill out the application and turn in at the office.
- Applicants are interviewed by the Family Selection Committee.
- Credit checks and employers references are reviewed.
- Families are notified by mail.