Program Qualifications
Program Qualifications
Need
A need for housing can take many forms, such as living in temporary housing, paying more than 30% of your income on rent, feeling unsafe in your neighborhood, or living in overcrowded or unsanitary conditions.
Please note that individuals who currently own a home or have owned one in the past three years are not eligible to purchase a Habitat home. This excludes mobile or trailer homes from that criteria.
Ability to Pay
Habitat is a mortgage lender. It is the responsibility of Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity to ensure that applicants are capable of repaying a mortgage without a significant cost-burden to the applicant.
Income Requirements
Applicants’ gross household income must fall between the minimum and maximum income requirements for their household size. The gross monthly income of all household members over the age of 18 should be included to determine the household income.
Applicants must show that their income source has been consistent for two years prior to applying. Applicants using income from employment cannot have more than a three-month gap in employment in the past two years. Employment must be within the same field or line of work. Additionally, income must be reasonably estimated to last at least three years into the future.
Income Table
| Household Size | Yearly Minimum | Yearly Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Person | $31,500 | $63,000 |
| 2 People | $36,000 | $72,000 |
| 3 People | $40,500 | $81,000 |
| 4 People | $45,000 | $90,000 |
| 5 People | $48,600 | $97,200 |
| 6 People | $52,200 | $104,400 |
| 7 People | $55,800 | $111,600 |
| 8+ People | $59,400 | $118,800 |
Accepted Income Types
We recognize the following sources when determining your eligibility:
- Employment wages and salaries
- Child support (must be court-ordered and consistently received)
- Alimony payments
- Social Security Survivor benefits
- Social Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
Income Not Considered for Qualification
The following types of assistance, while valuable, cannot be counted toward program eligibility:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/food stamps)
- Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
- Unemployment benefits
- Temporary or seasonal income without a consistent history
- Any income that cannot be properly documented or verified
Willingness to Partner
Partnership is a key component of Pikes Peak Habitat’s homeownership program and the organization as a whole. In order to build homes, Habitat partners with homebuyers, donors and volunteers. In a partnership, each partner makes a contribution.
Partnership Requirements
Each Pikes Peak Habitat homebuyer contributes 200 hours of sweat equity, or volunteer time, towards helping to build their home alongside Habitat staff and volunteers.
Habitat homebuyers also complete mandatory homebuyer education classes and submit to a monthly financial review while their home is being built.
Additional Criteria
First-Time Home Buyers
First-time Home Buyer Applicants may not have owned a house or land for three years before applying (mobile homes are excluded).
El Paso County Residency
El Paso County Resident Applicant(s) must have lived in El Paso County for a year before applying.
Citizenship
All family members must be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents.
Marital Status
Married couples must apply for the program together. Pending divorces must be finalized before applying.
Apply for Homeownership
The Application Window is Closed
Thank you for your interest in Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity’s homeowner program. While our current application period has concluded, we remain committed to supporting your affordable homeownership journey.
We invite you to complete our homebuyer interest form to receive timely updates about our next application window. This specialized communication will provide you with valuable resources designed to advance your homeownership goals.