Own Your Own Home

Contact us or call the office at 208-883-8502.  Palouse HFH typically opens it's application period in late August, about 8 months before the home build is scheduled to start.  If we are not taking applications at that time you call, staff can take your name, phone, email (if you have it), mailing address to contact you when the application period opens.  Staff are available to answer questions, and there will be an optional informational meeting to receive detailed information about our unique program, answer questions, and receive an application.  Keep checking this page for more information on the application process.

If interested, contact the Palouse HFH office to find out details of our special home ownership program.   The application requires two months of bank statements and pay slips, and two years of taxes.  It asks for a summary of all income and expenses, and for a statement outlining need.   If the application meets the initial requirements of need, ability to pay and willingness to partner, PHFH will pull a credit report, and interview landlords and employers.

Palouse HFH does not require specific credit scores or perfect credit history.  However we cannot build with individuals or families who have filed bankruptcy within the past two years, have over $2000 in charge offs or would have over 42% in debt to income ratio with a Habitat home added to their expenses.

Once you receive the application, fill it out and submit it with all the required documentation before the deadline.  Palouse HFH will offer information and help sessions to answer questions and assist with completion of the application.

There are three main criteria to apply for a Habitat Home: ability to pay, need for housing, and willingness to partner with Habitat.  To qualify you must have lived or worked in Whitman or Latah County for at least the last year; be living in inadequate housing (some examples: high rent, overcrowding, structural issues, high power bills); and be willing to fulfill partnership obligations, including working 300-400 hours of sweat equity helping to build your home.

Your income must fall within 30-60% of Area Median Income for Latah & Whitman Counties according to the Housing and Urban Development Administration (HUD).  The specific amounts change each year and vary depending on family size.  For example, in 2020, for a family of four, the income range was $20,850-$41,700.

If your applications meets the initial criteria, a selection committee member will review your credit history and check references, and assess your debt to income ratio.  The total ratio of debts to income cannot be over 42%.

Examples of income Palouse HFH will consider when determining if your income meets our range: income from annual or seasonal employment, disability, child support, food stamps and other government assistance. Employment must be reasonably expected to continue for two years. However, when determining debt to income ratio, any income dedicated to a specific purpose, such as food stamps, cannot be considered.

Sweat Equity – All Habitat homeowners  are required to spend  300-400 hours helping build their home.  The majority of those hours must be put in on the build site, but Habitat homeowners are also encouraged to  volunteer at the store, or elsewhere within Habitat or the community.  The volunteering can be done by those living in the home, as long as they are over age 16; a portion can be donated by friends, family, co-workers etc.  In cases of disability, Habitat will work with the homeowner to design volunteer opportunities tailored to their abilities.

No!  There is no application fee.

Recent Palouse Habitat home payments have averaged $600/month.  This includes mortgage payment, property taxes and insurance.  That figure will vary.  It depends on the cost to build the home, as well as the current market value of any donated materials or services.

Habitat requires that a future homeowner contribute $1000 towards closing costs, which can be saved in monthly payments during the home build.

If you are interested, watch this page for more information.

You can call the office at 208-883-8502 or Contact Us and ask to be on the contact list for when the next search begins.

Please provide your full name, phone, email (if you have it), mailing address, and how you heard about becoming a Habitat homeowner search.

Want to learn more?   Visit our PalouseHabitat/about page, or contact the office for specific questions.