Program Qualifications
Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity selects applicants based on three main criteria:
Need for Housing
A need for housing can be expressed in a variety of ways. Here are a few examples:
- You are living in temporary housing (including living with family).
- You are paying more than 30% of your household income towards rent.
- There is crime in your neighborhood that makes you feel unsafe.
- Your living conditions are overcrowded.
- You are living in unhealthy or unsanitary conditions.
If you currently own a home or have owned a home in the past three years, you are not eligible to purchase a Habitat home (mobile or trailer homes are excluded from this criteria).
Ability to Pay
Habitat is a mortgage lender. It is the responsibility of Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity to assure that applicants are capable of repaying a mortgage without significant cost-burden to the applicant.
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 in to the future.
Number/ household
Annual minimum
Annual maximum
Income sources may include:
- Job wages
- Child Support
- Alimony
- Social Security Survivor benefits
- Social Security Income and Social Security Disability
Income that will not be considered includes:
- TANF
- SNAP
- Section 8
- Unemployment Benefits
- Temporary Income
- Income that cannot be documented
Credit Check
Habitat will conduct a credit check to look for outstanding debts, collection accounts, open judgments and recent bankruptcies. Credit scores are not considered.
- Bankruptcies must be discharged two years prior to applying, and no unsatisfied/outstanding judgments may appear on the applicants' credit.
- Any evictions, foreclosures or repossessions must be at least three years old at the time of application.
- Total collections may not exceed $2,500, and all collection accounts must be in a payment plan prior to the future homeowner applying.
- Co-signed accounts must demonstrate a 12-month history of on-time payments.
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. 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 Buyer Applicants may not have owned a house or land three years prior to applying (mobile homes are excluded).
U.S. Citizenship All family members must be U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents.
El Paso County Resident Applicant(s) must have lived in El Paso County for a year before applying.
Marital Status Married couples must apply for the program together. Pending divorces must be finalized before applying.
Bedroom Policy
Habitat builds homes to address the needs of current family size. The number of bedrooms that a family is eligible for is determined using Habitat's bedroom policy. This policy states that:
- Every household member will have a bedroom.
- No more than two people will occupy a room.
- Children of opposite genders will not share a room.
- Children more than five years apart will not share a room.
Next Steps
If you feel that your family meets our eligibility guidelines, visit the apply page to learn how to apply. If you have additional questions, contact our office.