FSS Newsletter :: September/October 2003

Tuscarawas Valley Habitat For Humanity Builds Homeownership Dreams

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian organization with the goal to build decent simple houses in partnership with people in need who would not be able to own a home through conventional means. Families who buy Habitat homes are called "partner families" because they join with HFH to build the home and complete "sweat equity" hours as part of their homeownership experience. HFH houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with a no interest mortgage held by Habitat. HFH is able to keep the homes affordable through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials. The local Tuscarawas Valley Habitat for Humanity affiliate is part of the larger international HFH organization which was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller. To date, HFH International has built more than 80,000 homes around the world in more than 2,000 communities.

To qualify as a Habitat for Humanity homeowner, you need to meet the
following criteria:

1) be a low income family;
2) be a Tuscarawas Co. resident;
3) have a housing need, such as current housing in unsafe or unsanitary condition, overcrowded living conditions, need of assistance to pay for your housing, or paying more than 50% of your income for rent;
4) have enough on-going income to handle the reduced mortgage payment, and have a credit rating that doesn't include a lot of judgments and/or many high debt balances;
5) have a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity meaning that you
and your family are willing to complete many hours of "sweat equity" time
doing community service and working on your own and others? houses.

If you think you may qualify, call the Habitat for Humanity of Tuscarawas
Valley office at 330-343-3282. You will get an answering machine that asks
you to leave a message. Let the office know you are interested in becoming
a homeowner and leave your name and telephone number. Someone from the
Family Selection Committee will contact you. If you don?t have a phone,
clearly state your name and address so Habitat can contact you by mail.
Habitat for Humanity is looking for future homeowners.