Your Dream of Homeownership is Achievable

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Habitat Home Program Information

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Application Cycle Is Closed

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Repair a Home

New Homeownership Application Cycle is Currently Closed.

There are no dates yet for the next cycle.
We will post dates and instructions at least 2 weeks before we open the cycle.

You must meet the following requirements to qualify for our program. Please note that the income brackets may change before the next cycle begins.

You must qualify for a housing need with one or more of the following;
- overcrowding in your home
- unsafe or unsanitary conditions
- rent is too high
You must be a US citizen or a legal permanent resident
You must have lived or worked in St. Lucie County for at least the past consecutive 12 months

You must qualify as a low to moderate income household (Your income must fall between the minimum and maximum to qualify)

2023	# of Person in Household
Household	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Minimum Income	$38,545	$44,070	$49,595	$55,055	$59,475	$63,895	$68,315	$72,735
Maximum Income	$47,450	$54,200	$61,000	$67,750	$73,200	$78,600	$84,050	$89,450

You must authorize a credit and background check for each household member who is 18 years or older and provide a non-refundable fee for the credit and background check. We look at the current debt owed and your credit history to determine eligibility. Also required may be a verification or statement from your current and previous landlords. You must also provide proof of income, current bank statements, and current tax returns with W-2s. If self-employed, you must provide current tax returns with 1099s with a 2-year history of self employment, plus a detailed profit-loss statement for 6 months.
If approved and selected for a St. Lucie Habitat home:
- You must attend required homeownership and financial education classes
- You must work 300 hours of sweat equity per household
- You must pay a $750 processing fee
- You must cover the closing costs when the home is sold to you (approximately $5,000)
St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity homes are affordable to you at or below 30% of your gross monthly income including taxes and insurance. The house payments will be used by St. Lucie Habitat to help build more homes for other families in the area.

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Habitat Homes

Buy a Home Program

We like to help families help themselves. Prospective Habitat homeowners must demonstrate a need for safe, affordable housing. Once selected, Habitat homeowners must partner with us throughout the process. This partnership includes performing “sweat equity,” or helping to build their own home or the homes of others in our homeownership program. Sweat equity can also include taking homeownership classes or performing volunteer work in a Habitat ReStore or in a project.

St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity is now a Community Land Trust (CLT). A CLT provides access to homeownership for people priced out of the traditional real estate market. The benefits of a CLT homeownership include lower costs to enter homeownership, greater housing security than renting, stable affordable monthly payments enabling savings for other life goals, security from eviction, opportunity to build equity, home and ground lease can be willed to dependents, and ongoing support from the CLT.

To learn more, watch this video about CLT’s.

How It Works

Homeownership Programs Q & A

Whether you’re interested in the “Buy a Home” program or “Repair a Home” program, many of your questions/answers can be found below.

How do I qualify for the new homeownership program?

How does it work?

Prospective Homebuyers in need of decent, affordable housing apply for homeownership with their local Habitat for Humanity.

Additional Requirements

Must live or work in St. Lucie County for 12 consecutive months prior to applying with Habitat.
All adults in the household must pass a criminal background check.
All members in the household must either be U.S. Citizens or legal permanent residents (Green Card).

Willingness to Partner

Willingness to complete the required 300 sweat equity hours to help build your home and other Habitat homes. Work beside volunteers and donors with a gracious, positive attitude and a happy heart!
Willingness to attend all required Homeownership education classes.
Be on time for all events, meetings, and opportunities.

Credit Check

St. Lucie Habitat will conduct a credit check. We do not take credit scores into consideration. However, accounts in collection, charge-offs, or unsatisfied public records will be considered. It is best to resolve credit issues prior to application.

Who can I contact?

If you or someone you know is interested in finding out about how to become a St. Lucie Habitat Homeowner, please call our office to speak with DonnaLea Askman, Program Director, at (772) 464-1117, ext. 104, or [email protected].

Things You Need to Know Before You Apply

The Application Process

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Income Verification – 3 months most current (paystubs, award letters for benefits from Social Security, VA or other programs, self-employment income, court-ordered child support and/or alimony award letter, etc.).

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Verification from Land Lord (You give the contact information and Habitat will verify).

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A credit report will be pulled by St. Lucie Habitat – Start working on any credit issues now.

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A background check will be conducted by St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity.

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Tax Returns and W-2s for the past 2 years (if required to file).

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Verification of Employment (You give the contact information and Habitat will verify).

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Bank statements for ALL accounts – 3 months most current (All pages must be submitted).

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Other obligations – divorce decree, custody arrangements, student loan information.

Identification

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Valid Government Issued ID for each applicant & household members over the age of 18.

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Birth Certificates for every household member.

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Social Security Card or proof of Legal Residency Status for every household member.

Sweat Equity

Your willingness to contribute your own time and effort to partner with Habitat and serve the community.

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Three hundred sweat equity hours required.

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Participation in public relations and marketing efforts to help raise awareness & donations.

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Participation in the build or rehabilitation of the home you will purchase & other Habitat homes.

Savings

Savings is your ability to save for the costs of a Habitat House.

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Application fee (non-refundable) for credit and background check and employment verification (amount varies).

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Habitat homes do not come with a washer/dryer, dishwasher, microwave or lawn equipment – HIPS must purchase these items on their own.

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$750 processing fee (non-refundable, if accepted into the program).

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Approximately $5,000 for closing costs.

Buy a Home

St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity is always looking for ways to revitalize the community and support its future homeowners. When funds are available, applications are accepted and reviewed to determine eligibility.

Do You Qualify?

Hands-on

We offer critical home repairs to homeowners so they can continue to live in safe, decent homes for years to come.

Eligibility

Families are selected based on income, need, and willingness to partner.

Affordable Loans

Loans are made to the homeowner to cover the cost of the work. Payments are recycled to help serve others. Monthly or deferred payments will be required.

Resources

Volunteers & donated materials are used when possible.

Homeowner Selection and Support Committee (HSSC)

Selects homeowners based on 3 criteria:

The applicant’s level of need

The applicant’s willingness to partner with Habitat

The applicant’s ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable mortgage

The Homeowner Selection and Support Committee (HSSC) assists Habitat for Humanity (HFH) in the critical function of selecting qualified applicants to become HFH homeowners. Members support future homeowners through the processes of application through homeownership. Committee members attend application process meetings, groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies, and other community events to support applicants and HIPS.

As part of the support function of the committee, individual members serve as “advisors” to specific HIPS as assigned. When serving in this capacity, the member establishes regular contacts with the HIP and serves as a liaison between the HIP and HFH. These relationships may extend beyond the day homeowners move into their new homes.

Happy Habitat Homeowners

St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity follows a nondiscriminatory policy of family selection. Neither race nor religion is a factor in choosing Habitat’s homeowners.

*NOTE: St. Lucie Habitat does not offer short-term housing, rental housing, or immediate occupancy.

St. Lucie Habitat for Humanity is pledged to the letter and spirit of the 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 becoming a homeowner due to race, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.