Rio Grande Habitat for Humanity partners with low-income families who are living in inadequate, unsafe, unaffordable and/or overcrowded housing to build simple, safe and decent homes throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The community provides volunteerism and donations in the form of construction labor, professional services, money and materials to construct the homes in a cost-efficient manner.
If you are interested in applying to partner with Habitat for Humanity please review the following Selection Criteria before completing our Housing Interest form at the bottom of the page.
Habitat Family Selection Criteria
To qualify you must have a housing need. For example, no indoor plumbing, poor heating, leaks in the roof, overcrowding (three to a bedroom), unsafe or unsanitary conditions
You need to have a minimum steady, total household income of at least $24,000 per year
With your permission, we will verify your employment and other income, verify checking and savings account balances, get a statement from your current and previous landlords, have a credit check done
If you are approved for a Habitat home, we ask that you be willing to join in educational programs to learn and practice budgeting, home repair, and maintenance.
We ask that you attend the periodic Habitat for Humanity homeowners’ meetings
If approved for a Habitat home, we require that all adults (18 years and older) in your household be willing to work 300 hours of sweat equity. The sweat equity must be completed before you are permitted to move into your home
If approved for a Habitat home, about $3,500 will be needed for closing costs
You will have some time to save this money before closing if your family is selected
The Selection Process
When a new project opens up, interested families are invited to an Applicants Orientation meeting, followed by a series of interviews by the Family Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of volunteers who review the applications and work with applicants to assemble all required information. The process includes a credit check, requests made for references, income tax forms, pay stubs and other documentation. If the family selection committee feels that the applicant is ready and qualified to become a Habitat homeowner, the application is then submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. This process may take up to six months to complete.
Equal Opportunity Housing
Rio Grande Habitat for Humanity is 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.
If you have reviewed the Selection Criteria and believe you qualify, we encourage you to complete the Housing Interest form in order to keep your information on file.
