Habitat for Humanity Needs Families for Land O' Lakes Homes

Habitat for Humanity East & Central Pasco County has three home sites ready to build on in Land O’ Lakes. Now they need families for them.

There’s no waiting list right now, director of development Stephanie Black said.

The homes are not free—they are offered with a zero down, zero interest mortgage.

Habitat for Humanity doesn’t give away homes, it gives opportunity, Black said.

To qualify, applicants must meet income guidelines based on family size. For a family of four, the minimum income is $19,740 per year and maximum is $45,100 per year, Black said.

Applicants also must have had the same source of income for at least 12 months, and must pass a background and credit check, she said.

“Habitat doesn’t look for a particular credit score, just a history of responsibility,” Black said. “No credit is acceptable, repeated bad debt is not.”

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Each credit history is considered on a case-by-case basis, Black said.

Beyond credit and income, applicants must show a genuine interest in the overall community reinvestment, Black said. To be approved for a Habitat home, families must commit to 400 hours of volunteer service with the organization.

Habitat home recipients help with the construction of their homes and the homes of others, she said.

Home-buyer classes are mandatory, as well.

The home sites are located in Pasco Lakes Estates. Construction will begin in January as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program, which challenges women to devote at least one day to the effort to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness, Black said.

To apply for a Habitat for Humanity home, the first step is to fill out a pre-application questionnaire online at www.habitatpasco.org under the Family Selection tab. You also can call the Habitat office at 352-567-1444 to have one mailed to you.

The application will need to be returned to the Habitat office, 15017 U.S. Highway 301 Dade City, FL 33523.

Interested in volunteering for the Women Build program? Online registration for Women Build 2013 will open at the end of November, Black said. No experience is necessary.

Check out Women Build - Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County on Facebook.