Homeownership

 Phelps County Habitat for Humanity constructs new homes with the support of community partners, donors, and volunteers. Our homeownership program is designed to assist qualified homebuyers in achieving the dream of homeownership. Habitat provides a "hand-up" rather than a "hand-out." Qualified homeowners purchase a house with an affordable, no-interest loan from Phelps County Habitat and make monthly payments. The selected family invests their labor, known as "sweat equity," to help build their home or support other Habitat activities. 

1. To qualify, you must have a housing need. For example, you live in substandard, overcrowded, or unsafe living conditions or pay excessive housing and utilities.
2. You have lived in  Phelps County for at least 12 months. 
3. You must have verifiable, reliable income within our upper- and lower-income limits and not have had a bankruptcy or foreclosure in the last three years. 
4. If approved for a Habitat home, you will need funds for utility deposits and first-year homeowner's insurance. If your family is selected, you will have some time to save this money before closing.
5. If you are approved for a Habitat home, we ask that you be willing to join educational programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair, and maintenance. We ask that you attend periodic Habitat for Humanity meetings and functions.
6. If approved for a Habitat home, we require that all adults (18 years and older) in your household be willing to contribute "sweat equity" towards the construction of a Habitat project or approved activities consistent with the abilities of the family and must be otherwise willing to partner with Habitat.
7. Neither you nor any other person who will live in the home is listed on a sexual offender registry or is disqualified under regulations issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
8. If you are approved for a home and meet the sweat equity and financial requirements, we will sell you a home with no profit. Habitat house payments include taxes and insurance but are interest-free. The house payments are used by Phelps County Habitat for Humanity to build more houses with other families. This requires that you make these payments on time.

When a new project opens up, interested families are invited to an Applicant Orientation meeting, followed by a series of interviews by the Family Selection Committee. This committee comprises volunteers who review the applications and work with applicants to assemble all required information. The process includes a credit check, requests made for references, income tax forms, pay stubs, and other documentation. If the family selection committee feels that applicants are ready and qualified to become Habitat homeowners, their applications are submitted to the Board of Directors for consideration. 

Phelps County Habitat for Humanity provides equal housing opportunities for all and ensures fair and equal access to its programs and services regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, familial status, disability, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, source of income, or other characteristics protected by law.

Phelps County Habitat for Humanity  Applications!

Phelps County Habitat for Humanity is currently accepting applications. If you are interested in applying, you can download the application form from our website.

If you have any questions or need assistance with completing the application, please don’t hesitate to reach out via email at phelpshabitat@gmail.com.

We are also offering Application Completion Workshops to assist you:

• Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

               James Memorial Library, 300 West Scioto, St. James, MO

Applications must be received by April 30, 2025. Don’t miss out on this opportunity! 

Download the below Home Ownership Application 2025 to get a head start on the application process.