Why We Need Your Help

Affordable housing is out of reach for many families in Mobile County. Poverty housing defeats families and sets them adrift. Habitat for Humanity of Mobile County is trying to change this. Mobile County is the 19th most poverty stricken county out of Alabama's 67 counties. Over 20% of Mobile County residents live at or below the poverty line. Over 31,000 or 28.8% of children ages 0-17 in Mobile County live in poverty. The majority of these residents are renting or living in substandard housing. Many are living in government supported housing, draining government resources, diluting our tax base and putting a strain on social services.

One-third of Mobile County households are renters. Of that one-third that rent, 59% are poor or poverty families. According to the national Low Income Housing Coalition, a Washington, DC based nonprofit organization, families who rent are more likely to be poor than are owners, and therefore confront housing affordability problems. The majority of low-income renters are paying 50% of their income in rent, which prohibits the ability to save for home ownership.

The American economy is experiencing a recession and as during any time of suppressed economy, more people slide from being poor into poverty. Habitat for Humanity in Mobile County directly addresses the issue of affordable housing for residents who are on the poverty line and gives them a hands-up to home ownership while building a stable economic base for future generations.

Each family that is selected for a Habitat house must participate in a selection process to qualify for a no-interest loan. They must be able to make mortgage payments. Once approved, the family must contribute 300 hours for single head of household and 400 hours for two head of household "sweat equity" in order to qualify. Sweat equity is hours spent on construction of someone else's home followed by hours spent on construction of their own home. The following is the criteria for Family Selection.

• Family's current housing is inadequate due to problems with heating, water, electricity, plumbing or general disrepair or the current home is overcrowded due to number of family members
  
• Family is unable to secure a conventional bank or mortgage loan
  
• Family has a good credit rating
  
• Family is willing to provide the required "sweat equity" hours
  
• Family has the ability to pay approximately $350 per mo. on a 20-year mortgage
  
• Family attends homebuyer’s seminars and other educational workshops.
  
• Family is able to make a $500 cash down payment upon final approval for a house.
  
• Family is within the HUD 30% - 80% of Area Median Low-Income
  

Discrimination is NEVER a criterion.