Columbia County Habitat for Humanity

2018AncramRuralBuildApplicationGuidelines

Habitat’s2018AncramRuralBuildisauniqueprogramtohelpfamilieswhoseoccupationsareessentialtosustainingtheagriculturaleconomyandcharacterofAncram’sfarmingcommunity.Withitsmissiontobuildsafe,affordable,sustainable,homesforlower-incomeworkingfamilies,ColumbiaCountyHabitatforHumanity(CCHfH)isseekingtwoqualifiedfamilieswhoarereadytobecomehomeowners.HabitatplansconstructionoftwohousesintheHamletofAncramdale,locatedinthePinePlainsSchooldistrict.TheapplicationdeadlineisMarch16,2018.TheApplicationProcess:HabitatPartnerFamiliesarechosenbasedonevaluationofthreecriteria:1. AbilitytoPayThetotalapplicanthouseholdincomemustincludeincomefromallmembersofthehouseholdandbedocumentedbycopiesofpaystubs,W-2s,benefitletters,etc.Habitathousesaresoldtoqualifiedfamiliesviaanaffordablemortgage.Monthlymortgagepaymentsincludeaprinciplepaymentandanescrowpaymentfortaxesandpropertyinsurance.Totalhouseholdincomemustbeenoughforthefamilytobeabletomakeaffordablemonthlypayments,butcannotbebelow30%orexceed60%ofthemedianincomeforColumbiaCounty,basedonfamilysize,asshowninthetablebelow.FY2017MedianIncomeforCountywas$74,600.FamilySize 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Income60%Income30%

$31,300$15,700

$35,800$17,900

$40,300$20,200

$44,800$22,400

$48,300$24,200

$51,900$26,000

$55,500$27,800

$59,100$29.600

CCHFHevaluatesthefinancialreadinessofeachapplicanthousehold,butdoesnotusecreditscoresascriteria.Acreditreport,however,willberunonanapplicanttoreviewtheapplicant’sgeneralpaymenthistory.2. WillingnesstoPartner AllfamilieswhohavebeenselectedtopurchaseaHabitathome,PartnerFamilies,mustagreeto:• Completetheappropriatenumberofsweatequity/volunteerhoursto helpwiththebuildingoftheirownand/orotherHabitat

homes.Habitathousesarebuiltlargelywithvolunteerlabor.Friendsandfamilymembers16yearsoroldercanparticipatetohelptoearnhours.

• AttendaCCHfHapprovedFirst-TimeHomebuyerscourseaspartofthemortgagequalificationprocess,beforepurchasingaHabitathome.

• TakefinancialandmaintenanceresponsibilityfortheirHabitathome,oncetheygainownership.• SubmittoaCriminalBackgroundCheckandSexOffenderdatabasecheckaspartoftheapplicationprocess.

3. NeedforAdequateHousingApplicant(s)mustdemonstrateoneormoreofthefollowing:• Theyarefinanciallyunabletoobtainaconventionalmortgageloantopurchaseahome.• Thecurrenthomeissubstandardandtheproblems(s)areassumedtobeofsuchmagnitudethatsimplemaintenanceofthedefects

isnotareasonableoption.• Thecurrenthomehasaninadequatenumberofbedroomsasdeterminedbythenumber,ages,andsexofhouseholdmembers.• Thecurrentneighborhoodisunsuitable(unsafeorunsanitary).

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 are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Columbia County Habitat for Humanity www.columbiacountyhabitat.org 829 Route 66 518-828-0892 Hudson, NY 12534

February 2018 Dear Applicant, Thank you for your interest in applying for partnership with Columbia County Habitat for Humanity. We are seeking rural families to become Habitat homeowners in the hamlet of Ancramdale, in the Pine Plains School District. To learn more, come to an information meeting on Saturday, March 3rd, 10AM - Noon at the Ancram Fire House. Application deadline is March 16th. Enclosed in this packet in an application and an information sheet regarding the criteria that Habitat’s Family Selection Committee will use to review your application. The Committee will only review completed applications, so please make sure that you complete every section of the application, including:

• Listingeveryoneinyourhouseholdasrequestedonpage1,eveniftheydonotlivewithyoufull-time.• Listingallhouseholdmonthlyincomeandexpensesasrequestedonpage3.• Signaturesofeachadultmembersofyourhouseholdatthebottomofpage4.Youmayusethebackof

theapplicationforadditionalsignaturesandotherinformation.

Please attach copies of all requested information: (Please do not send originals.)

• Copiesoftwocurrentpaystubsfromeachhouseholdmemberwithincome.• Copiesofyour2016&2017taxforms.• Copiesofallrecentmonthlybills(utilities,insurance,etc.)

If you need help in completing the application, please call the Habitat office at 518-828-0892 and someone from the Family Selection Committee will get back to you. Please mail or bring your completed application materials in a secure envelope to: CC Habitat for Humanity, 829 Route 66, Hudson, NY 12534. We will be in touch with each applicant at some point during the selection process. A final decision will be reached in April 2018. Again, thank you for your interest. Sincerely, Columbia County Habitat for Humanity Family Selection Committee

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 are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Columbia County Habitat for Humanity, 829 Route 66, Hudson, NY 12534 518-828-0892