homeownership/process
The Process
There is a process that Bend Habitat and Crook County Habitat use to select and place families in homes:
1. It starts by attending a mandatory orientation. You can check with Sheila Pyott (541.385.5387 x225 - spyott@bendhabitat.org ) or check our website for the dates of the next orientation.
2. Application must be submitted. The FULL applications are handed out at the orientations and you will have one month to complete and return that applcation. It will ask for financial information, personal information, housing and utility records, references and much more.
3. Upon receiving the application, all applicants will have a financial underwriting take place to determine if they qualify financially. You will either advance to the next step or be counseled in your options if you do not qualify financially.
4. For those moving to the next step, we will schedule a home visit to deternime your willingness to partner with us in completing your sweat equity and determine the condition of your current housing situation. Both of these factors are part of the selection criteria.
5. After these visits, each applicant is reviewed by a selection committee of volunteers from our community. They will determmine if a family fully qualifies. Each applicant will receive notification of their acceptance into the program or their denial.
This process takes about 2-3 months to complete.
Those accepted will:
1. Be scheduled to come to the office to sign a Letter of Intent. This letter outlines the homeonwmership process and tells the homeowner what their responsibilities will be and what Habitat for Humanity will be expected to do.
2. Start their 400 - 600 hours of sweat equity. This will include:
a. Attending manditory classes and workshops
b. Putting in the required construction hours on their home or another family's home
c. Working at the Habitat ReStore
3. Start a savings account that will help them save the closing costs and first year's taxes and insurance.
4. Participate in fundraising events to help raise the funds needed to build their home.
This process takes 12-18 months, or longer, to complete.
