Applying for a Home 2008

We are currently NOT accepting applications. Persons interested in applying should continue to check the website regularly.

Individuals & families wanting to apply for a Habitat home in the East St. Tammany communities of Slidell, Lacombe, Alton, and Pearl River must meet the following criteria:

Need for Shelter

You need to demonstrate that you are in need of housing and are currently living in overcrowded, temporary, or substandard housing; or that you are at risk of losing housing for any reason. You also need to prove that you are unable to qualify for a conventional mortgage.

Willingness to Partner

You need to be willing to complete 250 hours of "Sweat Equity." This normally means working construction on other homes, as well as your own home, prior to becoming a homeowner. Other work opportunities will be made available for persons with disabilities. The hours are considered part of your down payment for the house. You will also need to participate in the Home Partner Education Program (orientation, budgeting classes, New Homebuyer Training). On occasion you will be asked to participate in media and/or meetings, with the house sponsor.

Ability to Pay

ESTHFH sells the house to you for the cost of land and building expenses. You will have an interest free loan repayable over twenty to twenty-five years. Average monthly payments include your mortgage, homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and property/city taxes. The current monthly payment is approximately $470 for a new three bedroom home! Your ability to pay will be confirmed in budget counseling with a Consumer Credit Counseling representative. You must also demonstrate ability to pay closing costs, which are due on the day of your house closing. Closing costs currently average $4,000.

Income Requirements

Your household income must be between 30% and 60% of Louisiana's median income.

Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with God and people everywhere to develop communities with people in need by building houses so that there are decent houses in decent communities in which every person can experience God's love and can live and grow into all that God intends.

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 program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing bacuse of race, color, vreligion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

The selection of families who will purchase home from the East St. Tammany Habitat for Humantiy affilaite will be done by the Family Selection Comitee using these criteria in such 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 programs.