How does the partnership with homeowners work?
People all over the world partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. With our help, Habitat homeowners achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Habitat is not a give-away program. Rather, it is a joint venture in which those who benefit from the housing program are actively involved in the work at various levels. The homes are sold to partner families at no profit and are financed with affordable, no-interest mortgages. In addition to making a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowner families invest hundreds of hours of their own labor - “sweat equity” - in building their houses and the houses of others. This labor reduces the cost of the houses, increases the pride of ownership and fosters the development of positive relationships with others in the community.
Through tax-deductible donations of money, materials and volunteer labor, Marshfield Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of the future homeowners. Homes are sold at no profit and with no-interest mortgages to partner families. Though costs of homes differ, the average Habitat house in the Marshfield area is expected to be modest, usually 3 or 4 bedrooms. Small monthly mortgage payments, including taxes and insurance, are repaid to this local Habitat affiliate. This money is deposited in a revolving “Fund for Humanity” which supports the construction of future houses in the Marshfield area.
How is a partner family selected?
With the recommendation of the Family Selection Committee, the Board of Directors chooses the partner family for each house. Criteria for these decisions include:
- Level of need based on income as compared to the Federal Poverty Standard
- Adequacy of present housing
- Willingness to participate in the Habitat program and provide "sweat equity"
- Ability to repay the home loan
Habitat has a non-discriminatory policy: race, religion, sex, age, marital status and physical disabilities are not factors influencing the choice of a partner family.
To identify prospective partner homeowners, the Marshfield affiliate receives referrals from social service agencies, clergy, community organizations and word-of-mouth.
Interested parties can answer the questions in the brochure below and then submit the completed form directly to the MAHFH office, either by email or by surface mail from July 1 through October 31 for a house to be built the following year. Requests are accepted only from July 1 through October 31. Applications received at other times of the year cannot be processed. If you prefer, click here to download the flyer to print, complete and mail in.
MAHFH Home Interest Brochure
CHECK OFF ITEMS TO SEE
IF YOU QUALIFY:
___Live in substandard/
inadequate housing
___Are unable to get a
conventional loan
___Have an income between
$35,900 - $43,080 a year
based on a family of 4 people*
___Are willing to help build your home.
Provide 250 hours of "sweat equity"
per adult
___Have been a resident in the
Marshfield Area for the past
12 months or more.
INFORMATION
IS
CONFIDENTIAL
Marshfield Area Habitat for
Humanity does not discriminate
based on race, color, religion, sex,
handicap, family status, or national
origin in the selection of families or
individuals in home ownership.
*Income is based on HUD income
guidelines in relation to Habitat
specifications
I am interested and want more information.
Complete and return to:
Marshfield Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
P.O. Box 784
Marshfield, WI 54449
A member of the Family Selection Committee will contact you.