Affordable Homeownership Opportunities with Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco

I’ve gotten several emails from readers interested in Habitat for Humanity, and thought it would be helpful to write a blog about their homeownership program.

I have the pleasure of serving on the Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco (Habitat GSF) Family Selection Committee. This committee meets once a month to review applications and decide on whether to approve or deny applicants.

It has been such a rewarding experience, and I have learned so much about an organization that is truly admirable for helping deserving members of our community become homeowners.

Habitat GSF serves the Counties of San Francisco, Marin, and San Mateo. Their mission includes affordable homeownership for low-income families to help break the cycle of poverty by providing children with stable homes.

Habitat for Humanity buys homes or land at actual cost, but keeps the cost of the home low in part by using volunteer labor. They are able to sell the homes to “partner families” at-cost and keep their mortgage payments affordable at 30% of their income. (As you may recall from , affordable housing is defined as spending 30% of the household income on rent or mortgage payments.)

Partner families must complete 500 hours of “sweat equity” - actual labor to build their homes - prior to getting the keys to their new home.

Because Habitat for Humanity partners with their families, they work closely with them to make sure they are set up for successful, affordable homeownership. Mortgages are calculated with zero interest and set over a 30 year span.

The Due family is the first partner family at Habitat GSF that successfully paid off their mortgage, and they did so in 20 years. James and Ellen call their homeownership opportunity in East Palo Alto “an answer to our prayers.”

Homeownership allowed Ellen and her four daughters to go to college. “I believe that having a Habitat home helped us to reach a little higher,” says Ellen. “I don’t think we would have gotten as far as we have otherwise.”

My favorite part of volunteering with Habitat GSF is meeting people like Ellen and her family. Every family I’ve conducted a home visit with has a unique story. All have been more than willing to sacrifice for the chance to become a Habitat partner family.

I’ve meet applicants who work multiple jobs and will use their vacation time to do their sweat equity. I’ve meet children who are too young to contribute sweat equity hours, so they promise to get good grades in school (which Habitat GSF then converts into sweat equity hours).

I also recently volunteered at Habitat GSF’s Daly City site. There couldn’t be a person worse than me for construction work, but it was a lot of fun! Their construction crew leaders are very experienced and thorough, and best of all, very encouraging and fun to work with. If you’re interested in volunteering for Habitat GSF, check out their volunteer opportunities here.

Below is more information on the program and how to apply:

Applicants must meet the following requirements: first-time homebuyer within the last three years, good credit standing, wage earners are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, and must be within the 40-60% levels of the area median income (check your household’s median income level ).

There are three main components applicants are evaluated on:

1. Must be willing to be a partner by attending homeownership workshops and completing sweat equity.

2. Must demonstrate a need for housing, such as living in an overcrowded home or spending more than 30% of the household income on rent.

3. Must demonstrate an ability to pay, such as show a history of regular monthly income.

If you are interested in applying, check out their website here or call (415) 625-1011. Click on the photo to see currently available homes!