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Habitat for Humanity is an equal opportunity program that provides simple, decent, affordable home ownership opportunities to low-income families living between 25-50% of the area's median income. Greater Worcester Habitat for Humanity is committed to working in partnership with families in need from our service area (includes: Auburn, Boylston, Grafton, Holden, Holliston, Leicester, Millbury, Northborough, Northbridge, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Sutton, West Boylston, Westborough, Worcester
Your family will be considered if your total annual income is between 25-50% of the Worcester County media family income. As of January 2007, these figures are:
| Family Size |
Annual Income* |
 |
| One |
$12,500 - $25,000 |
| Two |
$14,500 - $28,500 |
| Three |
$16,000 - $32,500 |
| Four |
$18,000 - $36,000 |
| Five |
$19,500 - $38,500 |
| Six |
$20,500 - $41,500 |
| Seven |
$22,000 - $44,500 |
| Eight |
$23,500 - $47,500 |
* Effective 1/1/07 and set according to HUD income guidelines for Worcester, MA
The three basic criteria used to select prospective homeowners
are:
- The applicant must have a need
for adequate shelter. The family may be living in
a structure that lacks adequate heating, plumbing or electricity
or there may be significant overcrowding. Sometimes the
family is spending more than 50% of their gross income on
housing or may be living in a shelter or condemned
structure.
- The applicant must have the ability
to pay for the house. Habitat for Humanity selects
families that earn between 25 and 50 percent of the area
median income. This allows the committee to select low-income
families that are not eligible for conventional financing
but have sufficient income to cover a no-interest, no-profit
mortgage and other housing costs. A typical mortgage is
about 30% of the homeowner's gross income.
- The applicant must be willing to
partner with Habitat for Humanity. Once selected,
partner families must attend monthly homeownership meetings.
They must also agree to put in between 400 and 500 hours
of sweat equity building their own house and
other Habitat houses. Further, partner families agree to
assist Habitat with publicity and other events.
The Family Selection Committee uses these criteria to select
families in a way that does not discriminate on the basis
of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, marital status
or because all or part of the applicant's income is derived
from public assistance.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there is no discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, age, or national origin.
GWHFH will begin accepting applications for homeownership in August 2007. We will hold a series of meetings to explain the selection process, distribute applications and answer questions. Anyone interested in applying for homeownership with Habitat must first attend one of the following meetings:
- Wednesday, August 15, 7:00 p.m.
~ First Baptist Church, 111 Park Avenue, Worcester
- Saturday, August 18, 10:00 a.m.
~ First Baptist Church, 111 Park Avenue, Worcester
- Monday, August 20, 7:00 p.m.
~ Keefe Technical High School, 750 Winter Street, Framingham
- Monday, August 27, 7:00 p.m.
~ Auburn Public Library, 369 Southbridge Street, Auburn
- Wednesday, September 5, 7:00 p.m.
~ Marlborough High School (Walker Building),
255 Main Street, Marlborough
- Tuesday, September 11, 7:00 p.m.
~ First Baptist Church, 111 Park Avenue, Worcester
Applications must be received in the GWHFH office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 5, 2007. The office is located at 111 Park Avenue, Worcester, MA 01609.
** Please note: you must attend an informational meeting to apply for homeownership ~ we do not mail out applications.
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