Mid-Iowa Habitat for Humanity

If your family, or a family you know in Jasper, Marshall, Poweshiek or Tama County, Iowa, is in need of decent, affordable housing, please contact our office. We will explain the application process and provide information on the availability, size and cost of Habitat homes in Jasper County

Applicants must meet four main criteria to qualify to purchase a Habitat home. These criteria include:

01.The applicant must live or work in Jasper, Marshall, Poweshiek or Tama County, Iowa, for at least 1 year. All houses will be built in one of these four counties.

02.The applicant must have a need for adequate shelter. Examples of this include but are not limited to: no indoor plumbing, unsanitary conditions, excessive rental costs, overcrowding, unsafe neighborhood, inability to obtain a conventional mortgage, poor heating, roof that leaks, etc.

03.The applicant must be willing to partner/volunteer. Partner families must complete up to 300 hours of sweat equity (250 hours for a single parent family). 50 of these hours can be completed by family and friends. Sweat equity can be done by helping to build Habitat houses and/or volunteering in their community. Partner families must also attend homeowner education classes on a variety of topics including budgeting, home maintenance and repair, etc.

04.The applicant must be able to pay. Applicants’ income must fall between 30% and 60% of the area median income, see chart below. Applicants’ must be able to make a 1% down payment prior to closing. Applicants must also be able to make monthly mortgage payments averaging around $450. This amount includes tax and insurance.

2009 Income Guidelines

Mid-Iowa Habitat for Humanity does business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or sexual identity.