Criteria for Homeownership
The need for simple, decent, and affordable housing is
tremendous. Unfortunately, Habitat for Humanity of Horry County
is not able to serve everyone who would like to become a
homeowner.
We use the following three criteria in selecting families to
partner with us in the homeownership program:
- Demonstrate a need for simple, decent, affordable
housing
- Have the ability to pay a 30-year, interest-free
mortgage
- A willingness to partner with our ministry in
building your house and homes for others
Myths and Truths
As with any program, myths abound frequently. Here is a
listing of some of the most common myths about homeownership
with Habitat for Humanity and the truth behind those myths.
Myth: Habitat for Humanity gives houses to poor
people.
Truth: Houses are not given to anyone. Habitat for
Humanity builds houses with those in need and then sells the
houses to homeowner partners. Because of Habitat's no-profit,
no--interest loans and because houses are built principally by
volunteers, mortgage payments can be kept reasonable to those
unable to obtain conventional financing for a home. Habitat
homeowners typically have incomes that are 35-60% of the median
income for Horry County. Each adult family member is required to
invest a minimum of 200 hours of sweat equity, time spent building their own
home or other Habitat houses.
Myth: Habitat builds houses only for minorities.
Truth: Habitat doesn't build houses for anyone. We
build houses with people in need without regard to race. Three
criteria drive the family-selection process: need, ability to
repay, and willingness to partner. The U.S. Fair Housing Act of
1968 prohibits discrimination in the sale of housing on the
basis of race, color, sex, religion, handicap, familial status
or national origin. The covenant that all local affiliates sign
with Habitat for Humanity International also specifies that
Habitat homeowner families are selected "according to criteria
that do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, or ethnic
background."
Myth: Habitat homeowners are on welfare.
Truth: While some do receive public assistance, most
homeowners work at low-wage jobs. Habitat for Humanity works in
good faith with people, who often are at risk in society,
knowing that owning a home is not the answer to every problem,
but can be an important step, often the first step, toward
helping people break out of the cycle of poverty.
Myth: You have to be a Christian to become a Habitat
homeowner.
Truth: Habitat for Humanity was founded as and remains
as an unashamedly Christian ministry. Homeowners are chosen
without regards to creed, however, both in keeping with
requirements of the law and Habitat's belief that God's love
extends to all, regardless of race, creed, or nationality. We
also welcome volunteers from all faiths or no faith at all.
Myth: Habitat houses allow people to move from poverty
to a fancy new house.
Truth: Any newly built house is going to be a dramatic
change for a family that has been living in a shack, hut, or
run-down apartment. But Habitat houses are not extravagant by
any standard. Habitat's philosophy is to build simple, decent,
affordable
houses. Under the house design criteria approved by Horry
County's board of directors, living space in a three bedroom
house, for example, does not exceed 1,150 square feet. The
average cost of a three bedroom Habitat house is approximately
$65,000.
Myth: Habitat houses lower neighborhood property
values.
Truth: Many studies of low-income housing show that
affordable housing has no adverse effect on other neighborhood
property values. In fact, Habitat for Humanity believes its
approach to affordable housing can improve neighborhoods and
communities by strengthening community spirit, increasing the
tax base and building better citizens through the cooperative
effort involved in Habitat construction.
Myth: Habitat homeowners sell their houses and make a
large profit because of the original low cost.
Truth: Habitat homeowners earn equity in
their homes like any other homeowner. Special second
mortgages that are "paid off" by living in the houses help
alleviate concerns that some people may have regarding the
resale of Habitat houses.
Myth: Habitat for Humanity is a Southern poverty
program.
Truth: Habitat for Humanity International started in
the southern United States and remains based in Americus,
Georgia. It is a global partnership, however, drawing families
in need together with volunteers and resources to build simple,
decent, affordable houses all over the world. Habitat currently works in
more than 80 countries.
Myth: Habitat for Humanity is an arm of the
government.
Truth: Habitat for Humanity International is an
independent, nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry.
It is not an arm of the government, nor an arm of any particular
church denomination. Habitat does accept government funds for
the acquisition of land or houses in need of rehabilitation.
Habitat also accepts government funds for streets, utilities and
administrative expenses, so long as the funds have no strings
attached that would limit its ability to build each Habitat
house as a demonstration of God's love.
Myth: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter founded
Habitat for Humanity
Truth: Habitat for Humanity was started in Americus,
Georgia, in 1976 by Millard Fuller along with his wife, Linda.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn (whose
home in Plains is just eight miles from Americus), are longtime
Habitat supporters and volunteers who help bring national and
international attention to the organization's house building
work. They annually lead the Jimmy Carter Work Project to help
raise not only houses, but also awareness of the need for
affordable housing. Since the Carters' first work project in
1984, more than 1,000 houses have been built in conjunction with
special weeks.
Myth: Habitat for Humanity has chapters in every state
and throughout the world.
Truth: Habitat operates through locally run affiliates
rather than through chapters controlled by broader
organizations. Affiliates are grass-roots organizations of local
people coming together to address local needs. As such, the
affiliates are independent, nonprofit organizations that operate
within specific service areas in a covenant relationship with
Habitat for Humanity International.
Myth: Habitat for Humanity builds exclusively in
either cities or rural areas, but never both.
Truth: Habitat for Humanity, through local affiliates,
is at work in large cities, small cities, suburbs and rural
areas, highly developed countries, and in those with emerging
economies. Because poverty housing is so widespread, Habitat's
work goes on 365 days a year in hundreds of locations throughout
the United States and around the globe.
Myth: Poverty housing is such a large problem that it
can never be solved.
Truth: Poverty housing is a huge issue, but Habitat
believes that by continuing to build houses with those in need
and working with other committed groups the problem can be
solved. As an example, Habitat's 21st Century Challenge calls
communities to eliminate substandard housing in their area
within this generation. In areas where the need for affordable
housing is especially daunting, the goal may be for a
significant, quantifiable reduction in substandard housing.
Communities are accepting the challenge to build with a definite
plan and at a rate that makes it possible to eliminate
substandard housing. This year, New Horizons HFH and other local
groups achieved their goal of making affordable housing for every
family in Sumter County, Georgia during 2000. |
