Providing personal stability and financial empowerment through our Homeownership Program.

With education, sweat equity, and community, SAW HFH provides an affordable mortgage to those that successfully complete our Homeownership Program.

Education

SAW HFH believes the pathway to homeownership starts with education. We provide classes and resources to help with debt management, financial integrity, and homeowner success.

Community

A good community develops from good neighbors. We believe in strength in numbers and providing each other with support, whether it’s through our ReStore, partnerships and volunteering with other non-profits, or local engagement.

Sweat Equity

Our program requires 200 hours of sweat equity through education, home construction, and working alongside volunteers in the ReStore and other local non-profits. The goal through sweat equity is not just home equity, but personal equity.

QUALIFICATION

Do you qualify for our Homeownership Program?

Service Area

We service the Staunton-Augusta Waynesboro Area. Applicants must live or work in our area for at least one year prior to applying.

Willingness to Partner

Must agree to “partner” with Habitat for Humanity in helping to build their house and houses built for other families. Each household adult (18 years or older) must contribute a minimum of 200 “sweat-equity” hours.

Income & Ability to Pay

Must have enough income to support the monthly mortgage payment.

Debt Management

Debt must not have more than $1,000 in delinquent non-medical debt.

Living Conditions

Substandard housing conditions (overcrowding, excessive rent, defective dwelling, etc.)

Additional Qualifications

Cannot have owned a home within the last 2 years. All applicants are subjected to credit and background checks. Annual household income must not be over 80% of the Area Median Income.

HOW TO APPLY

What is the Application Process?

Fill out the application based on your current status.

1

Download Application

Baja la aplicación (Español)

Ensure all applicable required documents are included in your submittal. Any applications that are not completely filled out or missing documents will be returned.

2 Submit your completed application and documents to the following locations:

By Mail: SAW HFH, PO Box 3188, Staunton VA 24402
Inside the ReStore: (Thursday-Saturday 10-4 pm) at the designated lockbox
Outside the ReStore (818 Greenville Ave) at the designated lockbox

3 Once the application is submitted, you will receive a notification within 30 days regarding your application.

If your completed application qualifies, it will be submitted to Committee. The Committee will screen the applications further and will require a Home Visit. The Committee will submit applicants for final approval, to be completed by the Board of Directors.

4

*Data provided by HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), here.

Important Application Policies

Applications cannot be saved or reused for future cycles.
Applicants must reapply for each application period.
Applications received before February 1 or after February 28 at 5:00 PM will be returned.
Applications missing required supporting documentation will be marked incomplete and returned.

Frequently Asked Questions

When applications are being accepted, they must be turned in with the requested documentation. All applications received without all documents will be returned. SAW HFH will run a credit report, background check, and Sex Offender Registry check on all adults (over 18) represented on the application.
All applicants are screened to see who qualifies. All qualified applicants are sent to committee for approval. SAW HFH’s Board of Directors then votes on approved, qualified applicants to become Partner Families.
Unfortunately, no. We receive hundreds of qualified applications for only a small number of houses that we can build. Approved, qualified applicants will be streamlined by the Partner Family Application Committee based on current construction, AMI variables, and need variables.
Once approved, all family members over the age of 18 will be required to complete 200 sweaty equity hours. These hours vary in education, construction, ReStore, and community engagement.
No. You will pay an affordable monthly mortgage that varies based on income. Real Estate Taxes and Homeowner’s Insurance are also required.
See the HUD chart, here.

FREE CLASS

Credit Management Classes

SAW Habitat for Humanity has partnered with the Shenandoah Valley Social Services and the DCCU Cares Foundation to help improve family financial outcomes through a two-part course. The objectives include; reducing expenses, increasing savings, identifying community resources, understanding credit, credit reporting, improving credit and safeguarding personal information.

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