Habitat seeks partner family for donated, ready-to-build lot

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Putnam County Habitat for Humanity has received a land donation in Greencastle from an anonymous donor, and with the land, PCHH plans to build a home for a partner family.

Habitat’s goal is to build homes with partner families at no profit and no interest to families who could not otherwise afford a home with an affordable mortgage.

There are three general guidelines:

-- Need for Adequate Shelter-Housing must be evident. The affiliate seeks to assist families who have the goal of becoming independent homeowners. PCHH selects under resource partner families whose present housing is inadequate. For example plumbing, heating, leaks in the roof, overcrowding, unsafe or unsanitary conditions, etc.

-- Need to have a maximum steady income which falls between $27,180 and $51,300. The lowest number is based on a family size of one and the highest is based on a family size of eight.

With the applicant’s permission, PCHH will verify employment and other income, verify checking and savings account, verify source of down payment, statement from your current and possibility previous landlords, credit check, criminal background check, sex offender registry and conduct home visits. Another credit check, criminal background check and sex offender check will also be done prior to closing.

-- Willingness to partner/Sweat Equity: Each adult member of the household over the age of 18 must perform 250-500 sweat equity hours. With 500 hours being the maximum. These hours will include construction site work, training for basic home maintenance, homebuyer prepurchase financial training and other activities defined in the partnership agreement.

Each home will be sold at the fair market value determined by an independent appraiser. There will be a 30-year mortgage. The mortgage payment typically run from $350 to $450 a month which includes escrow (property taxes and insurance).

PCHH has built or rehabbed homes since 1998. In the period of time from 1998 to present, there have been 18 homes built or rehabbed in Putnam County. The last one was in Bainbridge as a rehabbed home.

PCHH is seeking corporate sponsors and volunteers. Clearing of brush and some trees will be the first order of business for the lot.

Actual building of the home will not begin until spring 2019.

Putnam County Habitat for Humanity’s orientation meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at 620 Tennessee St., Suite 2, Greencastle, when interested persons will be able to ask questions about the program. Persons can reserve a spot at the meeting by calling PCHH at 653-5360. Application packets will be available at the orientation.

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