Habitat of Lakeland Blog

Lakeland  Habitat for Humanity does not build houses FOR families; we facilitate a partnership among families who demonstrate need, the ability to pay the mortgage, and a willingness to partner in the construction of their home. This partnership also engages community supporters who join the families in the home building process and provide both financial and in-kind support for building supplies and materials.  Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, or “sweat equity,” into building their Habitat house and they pay back a no-profit, no-interest mortgage.

Lakeland Habitat for Humanity is committed to the development of decent, affordable homes. We also are committed to work with partner families to insure that the experience of long term home ownership is positive and successful. Families are trained and supported in a variety of skills, including: basic construction skills to assist in the building of their house; home maintenance skills; various home improvement and interior design skills; neighborhood involvement and cooperation skills; budgeting and consumer awareness skills; and others as necessary.

We have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with many families in Polk County over the years. Our Partner Families are amazing people committed to working hard, helping themselves and others achieve the dream of purchasing and owning their own home. Each home has a story; each home has touched the lives of many people. We are excited about the future of Lakeland Habitat for Humanity and look forward to all of the new stories waiting to be written.

Lakeland Habitat for Humanity utilizes a Family Selection Action Team to facilitate the selection process for a Partner Family. The team believes and insists on nondiscriminatory family selection criteria for all homeowner families. Race, color, ethnic origin, religion, sex and family composition are not factors considered in the selection process. Partner families are selected according to the following criteria:

1. A demonstrated need for adequate and affordable housing:
Partner families must demonstrate that their present housing arrangement does not qualify as adequate shelter. Examples of INadequate/UNaffordable shelter are listed below:

• Structural problems with wiring, plumbing, etc.
• Overcrowding – more than two people per bedroom.
• Living in temporary housing with relatives, transitional housing, in an automobile, etc.
• Cost-Burdened – family is paying more than 30% of their income on housing.
• Unsafe and/or unsanitary living conditions inside and/or outside the dwelling.
• Family has tried and is unable to obtain a loan from other sources.
• Family has tried and is unable to obtain decent affordable rental housing.

2. Ability to make monthly house payments:
Partner families are low-income families who cannot obtain conventional financing or a decent, affordable apartment, but have sufficient income to afford the monthly payments and other costs associated with Habitat homeownership. Families whose income falls below 60% of the local area median, have not had a previous mortgage and are not currently in or have been in bankruptcy in the past seven years, are eligible to apply for a Habitat house. Credit approval from a third-party source is also required.

A partner family’s gross income is based on the TOTAL household income: public assistance, child support, alimony payments and funds obtained from the employment of ALL people living in the home will be included in the gross income (Section 8 income is not considered income). The gross income must be under 60% of Polk County’s median income. The average monthly payment for a Habitat for Humanity house is $500-800.

Use the chart below to determine your family’s financial eligibility.  Total household income for an entire month must fall within the range that matches your family size.

NOTE:  A family’s income is based on their TOTAL household income.  This includes all job earnings, public assistance, social security, disability, child support and/or alimony payments.  Government rent subsidies (Section are not considered income.

Click Here to complete a home application

3. Willingness to partner:

• Families must show a genuine interest in the overall community reinvestment philosophy of Habitat for Humanity.
• 500 hours of “sweat equity” must be performed. Each family selected to purchase a home from Lakeland Habitat for Humanity invests in the Habitat program by working 500 hours helping to build homes, as well as attending classes such as homeowner maintenance and repair, and budgeting.
• Families must be willing to attend monthly Habitat for Humanity Homeowner’s meetings.
• Families must complete and return their application for housing on time, acknowledging acceptance of closing costs and the impound fee requirements. All information that is requested must be true and accurate. Withholding or falsifying information will result in the application being rejected. The volunteer Family Selection Action Team verifies information on homebuyer applications, including: income, current rent, relationship with landlord, and account status with utility companies. They also check personal references and any criminal background.