Applicant families for the Habitat for Humanity homeownership program will be selected based on the following criteria: To be eligible, the applicant family must have established residency in Skagit County, WA for at least one year prior to application. The applicant family must currently live in inadequate or substandard housing, or must be paying fifty percent (50%) or more of its income towards rent. Because subsidized housing is generally affordable and adequate, families already in these programs are still eligible for Habitat, but may be given a lower priority for consideration. Families interested in applying for a SHFH home begin by attending one of our orientation sessions. These will be scheduled on an irregular basis to coincide with upcoming new construction. Applications will be completed as part of this orientation session. If chosen to receive a home through Habitat, the family must contribute a minimum of five hundred (500) hours of "sweat equity" labor on its home or the homes of other families. Family friends are able to provide some of this sweat equity, and considerations will be given to those with physical disabilities so that they can complete their sweat equity hours. Once their home is completed, the family must pay back a twenty-year, zero-interest mortgage to Habitat. A typical mortgage payment is somewhere between $500 and $700 per month, and no mortgage will be more than thirty percent (30%) of a family's monthly income. The applicant family must fall within the maximum and minimum income guidelines established by Habitat, which are based on the number of people in the family. Habitat does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religious affiliation, orientation, source of income, marital or familial status, or physical limitations. For a chart of our income requirements, or to be placed on the applicant list, please contact us at (360) 428-9402 or info@skagithabitat.com with the following information: Name Mailing Address Phone Number Email address