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Homeownership in Coatesville
About our Homeownership Program
Habitat for Humanity of Chester County works in partnership with volunteers, donors, and the entire Chester County community to build simple, decent, affordable homes for low-income families.
Habitat homes are not free; homeowners pay the equivalent of a 0% interest mortgage and spend 200+ hours of “sweat equity” helping to build their neighborhood or other Habitat for Humanity Homes.
Coatesville Area Application Window Is Now Closed
If you submitted an application before the October 30th deadline:
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Your application will be reviewed within 30 days of receipt
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If you financially qualify for the homeownership program, you will be contacted by the Community Program Director.
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A Family Services Committee member will then contact you to schedule an interview at your current residence to review your need for decent housing. All family members listed on your application must be present during this meeting.
To qualify for our program, you must:
Residency:
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Applicants must live or work in Chester County for a minimum of 1 year and hold US citizenship, or permanent resident status
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Current Housing Must Meet One or More of the Following Criteria:
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Current Shelter is inadequate
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Temporary or transitional housing
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Household is overcrowded
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Environment is unsafe
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Household currently pays more than 30% of total gross monthly income for housing
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Unable to purchase a home through any other means
Credit:
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Must have a fairly clean credit report or be able to speak to any damaging items on the report
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Applicants should access their free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com and contact a credit counselor to clear any negative remarks
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Credit score needs to be around 600 or higher
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No bankruptcies allowed in the past 7 years
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Household debt to Income ratio should be 39% or less.
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No outstanding liens or judgments
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No felonies present on a nationwide background check
Partner with Habitat:
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Agree to complete a minimum of 200 hours of volunteer time (known as “Sweat Equity”) prior to closing on your home
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Agree to complete a series of homeownership workshops
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Agree to maintain your Habitat home in a manner that reflects pride in homeownership
If your credit and debt are preventing you from qualifying for a Habitat home, here are some credit counseling agencies that can assist you in working towards being approved for our homeownership program:
Clarifi/CCCS of Delaware Valley
770 E. Marshall Street, Suite 190
West Chester, Pa 19382
215.563.5665
Housing Partnership of Chester County
41 W. Lancaster Avenue
Downingtown, Pa. 19335
610.518.1522
Questions?
Questions?
Contact Brooke Seeger
Community Program Director
brooke@hfhcc.org
610-384-7993 ext. 115
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.