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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.

 

We are currently looking for partner families for homes we are building and rehabbing in Coatesville.

Traditional Habitat Home Income Guidelines

Income should be between 40% and 60% of the published HUD Median Income for Chester County. For example, the median income for a family of four in 2024 is $114,687 a year.

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To qualify for our program, you must:

Residency:

  • Applicants must live or work in Chester County for a minimum of 1 year and hold US citizenship, or permanent resident status

  • Current Housing Must Meet One or More of the Following Criteria:

  • Current Shelter is inadequate

  • Temporary or transitional housing

  • Household is overcrowded

  • Environment is unsafe

  • Household currently pays more than 30% of total gross monthly income for housing

  • Unable to purchase a home through any other means

Credit:

  • Must have a fairly clean credit report or be able to speak to any damaging items on the report

  • Applicants should access their free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com and contact a credit counselor to clear any negative remarks

  • Credit score needs to be around 600 or higher

  • No bankruptcies allowed in the past 7 years

  • Household debt to Income ratio should be 39%  or less.

  • No outstanding liens or judgments

  • No felonies present on a nationwide background check

Partner with Habitat:

  • Agree to complete a minimum of 200 hours of volunteer time (known as “Sweat Equity”) prior to closing on your home

  • Agree to complete a series of homeownership workshops

  • 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:

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Clarifi/CCCS of Delaware Valley 

770 E. Marshall Street, Suite 190

West Chester, Pa 19382

215.563.5665

Visit their website

 

Housing Partnership of Chester County 

41 W. Lancaster Avenue 

Downingtown, Pa. 19335

610.518.1522

Visit their website

How to Apply

When the application window opens:

 

  • Applications will open on October 1, 2024. Completed applications will be accepted through October 30, 2024.

  • You will have the entire duration of the application window to complete your application and return it to PO Box 1452, Coatesville, PA 19320. Applications with a time stamp after October 30, 2024 will not be accepted.

  • You will need to provide copies of all of the documents listed on the check list with your completed application. No documents will be returned – only copies will be accepted!

  • If you do not provide all of the documentation, your application will be marked as incomplete and will not be reviewed further.

 

After you submit your application:

  • Your application will be reviewed within 30 days of receipt

  • If you financially qualify for the homeownership program, you will be contacted by the Community Program Director.

  • 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.

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Questions?

Questions?

Contact Brooke Seeger
Community Program Director
brooke@hfhcc.org
610-384-7993 ext. 115

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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.

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