Affordable Homeownership -
Chicago South Suburbs
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Habitat homeowner. We believe that everyone should have a safe, affordable place to call home.
Families may find themselves in need of decent shelter due to a variety of circumstances — unpredictable rent increases, overcrowded living conditions, damaged or dilapidated structures, unsafe neighborhoods, or lack of access to land and affordable financing.
When families partner with Habitat, they start down a new path — one with far fewer barriers to a better, healthier, more financially stable life.
Habitat homeowners play a hands-on role in the homeownership process, beginning with the sweat equity hours they perform. To fulfill sweat equity hours, they work alongside volunteers to help build and renovate the places they will call home. Some also work toward this requirement by putting in time at one of the local Oak Forest Habitat ReStore, while others may serve on committees or help out at the DuPage and Chicago South Suburbs Habitat office. Future homeowners are also required to attend financial education and budget-planning classes.
Program Qualification Criteria
- Need for housing. Current home is overcrowded, unsafe, too expensive, etc.
- Ability to pay. Stable work history, manageable debt load, absence of liens.
- Willingness to partner. Prospective homeowners must INVEST a minimum of 250 hours of “sweat equity” for each applicant and co-applicant.
- Live or work in Illinois.
- Meet income guidelines (below)
PLEASE NOTE: In addition to meeting the above income requirements, an applicant’s ability to pay will also be evaluated by considering the applicant’s credit history and income to debt ratio. No more than 43% of the applicant’s gross income can be used for total housing costs and all other debt payments.
If you have any questions or need further clarification about Habitat’s Homeownership Program, please contact Brittany Musiel at 630-757-7526 or bmusiel@gohabitat.org
