Mutual self-help housing
Homeownership Program
Mutual Self-Help Homeownership
Homeownership does more than provide families with a stable roof over their heads. Living in an affordable, owned home improves health and wellbeing, provides better educational opportunities, and helps build financial security.
In partnership with the USDA – Rural Development, Mutual Self-Help is a housing program that gives families a hand up into sustainable, affordable homeownership by having them participate in the building of their homes and the homes of their future neighbors, all alongside a group of friends and volunteers.
Once all homes in a build group have been completed and inspected, participants purchase the home they helped to build with a low-interest and income-based mortgage. By participating in financial education courses and coaching throughout the duration of construction, future homeowners who participate in the Mutual Self-Help Housing program are set up for long-term success
Three Keys to Qualify for Mutual Self-Help
Need of a Home
- Your current housing is cost-burdened or substandard housing, which would include homes: in poor physical condition, home is overcrowded, rent is subsidized, or rent is more than 30% of gross income.
- Lived in Lewis and Clark County for at least 1 year
Willingness to Partner
- Your time commitment to contribute 65% of the labor on all the homes in the build group. This equals to a minimum of 10 hours per week, per household, for the duration of the construction. Applicants are required to participate every Saturday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM and one weekday evenings 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
- No Construction skills are required, habitats patient and dedicated staff will teach you everything you need to know. Site safety courses with be required prior to building.
- It is important to understand what the program is about and what will be expected, providing requested information in a timely matter, participants in education opportunities and recruiting volunteers to support the group.
- Individuals unable to physically work at job sites may be provided with other volunteer opportunities to fulfill these requirements.
Ability to Pay a Mortgage
- Income:
- Applicants must exhibit steady and verifiable income for a minimum of one year.
- Household income must be below 80% of the Area Median Income. in order to qualify for our program. See Chart on the right.
- Credit:
- Credit score is reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- To qualify for third-party financing, a credit score needs to be 640 or higher.
- Debts:
- Debts that can affect eligibility are student loans, personal loans, credit cards or car loans.
- Combined monthly debts, including a mortgage payment, cannot exceed 41% of our monthly income.
| Number of People in Household | Maximum Houshold Income |
| 1 | $ 83,300 |
| 2 | $ 83,300 |
| 3 | $ 83,300 |
| 4 | $ 83,300 |
| 5 | $ 109,950 |
| 6 | $ 109,950 |
| 7 | $ 109,950 |
| 8+ | $ 109,950 |
steps to apply for homeownership
Step 1 – Submit a new/updated pre-qualification form every build cycle.
Step 2 – Schedule an interview with Habitat’s program staff to determine if you are eligible for our program.
Step 3 – Attend the interview with Habitat’s program staff to determine if you qualify and answer any questions you may have.
Step 4 – The program manager will verify all income, credit and debts before making final selections.
Step 5 – A list of qualified applicates will be reviewed for final selections, based on need of adequate housing, willingness to partner, and ability to pay a mortgage.
Homeownership
We are currently not taking any new applications for Helena Habitat’s mutual-self help homeownership program. Please complete the ‘contact us’ form to be notified when we are accepting new applications.