Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry financed through private donations and utilizing volunteer labor. Our purpose is to build simple, decent, affordable housing with partner families and to sell the houses at no interest to families who could not otherwise afford a home.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Mitchell Habitat accepts applications only when we are preparing to select our next homeowner partner family.  We do not maintain a "waiting list" because each of our homes takes 12-18 months to build, and we do not want to keep multiple families waiting. 

In 2018, we accepted applications January 2-February 28.  We will not accept any more applications in 2018.  To be notified of our next open application period, click the link below, and enter your information so that we can contact you at that time. 

If you have questions, please leave a message at (605) 996-9068.  All inquiries are considered confidential.

QUALIFYING FOR A HABITAT HOME

To qualify for a Habitat home, a family:
  1. Must have housing need. For example: no indoor plumbing, poor heating, leaks in the roof, overcrowding (three to a bedroom), unsafe or unsanitary conditions.
  2. Must have lived in our service area (Davison or Hanson County) for at least one year.
  3. Must have a minimum steady income, roughly 35% of the median income per household size for our service area. However, total family income should not be more than 60% of the median income per household size for our service area.

After a family has applied, Habitat will verify employment and other income, verify checking and savings account balances, get a statement from current and previous landlords, complete a credit check, criminal background check, and sex offender check, and ask for credit references.

If a family is approved for a Habitat home, they will:
  1. Attend homeowner meetings and participate in programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair, and maintenance.
  2. Be required to provide "sweat equity."  All adult members of the household (18 years or older) must work at least 200 “sweat equity” hours as a Habitat partner before their house is completed. The total sweat equity requirement per family will not exceed 400 hours.
  3. Need to save $1,000-$1,500 for closing costs (utility deposits, homeowner’s insurance premium, moving costs, and other expenses occurring at time of closing).
  4. Make prompt monthly house payments to Habitat (including mortgage principal, taxes, and insurance).  These payments average $450-$650 per month.  Since these house payments are used by Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity to build more houses with other families, partner families MUST make these payments on time.

​The application process takes between two and four months. Families not accepted may reapply for future homes.