Homeownership Program
Passaic County Habitat for Humanity builds and sells homes in partnership with low to moderate-income individuals and families.
How does the homeownership program work?
Our Homeownership Program provides quality homeownership opportunities to low to moderate-income individuals and families. We provide a hand-up, not a hand-out to qualifying applicants who may not be able to qualify for traditional mortgage options.
Applications are Closed
Applications for Passaic County Habitat's Homeownership Program are currently closed. You can join our email list to be notified when application cycles open using the form at the bottom of this page.
How do you qualify?
+ You’re able to pay an affordable mortgage.
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You have a steady income that meets income requirements.
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Your debt and credit history pass our evaluation.
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You must meet residency requirements.
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You are unable to purchase a home through a bank or other programs.
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You must pass a background check.
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You cannot have owned a home for at least 3 years or be in bankruptcy.
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You cannot have been foreclosed upon in the past 7 years.
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You must be able to cover or save for your downpayment and closing costs.
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Note: The number of qualified applicants may exceed the number of homes available for purchase during an application cycle. Unfortunately, we are not able to partner with all qualified applicants who apply.
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+ You're in need of better housing.
Some examples of need include one or more of the following:

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You’re spending over 30% of household income on housing.
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Your current space is overcrowded.
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You’re living in temporary/unstable housing.
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You’re living in housing that is unsafe or has bad heating, poor plumbing, pests, and/or structural problems.
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You have someone with special needs that are not being met by your current housing situation.
​+Your income falls within the guidelines.
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Each application cycle has its own set of income guidelines. This means there is a minimum gross annual income that must be met by the applicant(s) as well as a maximum household gross annual income that cannot be exceeded based on your household size.
+ You’re willing to partner with us.
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You complete all application materials honestly and submit requested documents throughout the process.
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You complete at least 200 hours of Sweat Equity per household.
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You must attend homeowner education courses.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How often do you have applications open?
Our application cycles are set based on our current construction schedules. When we have a home or homes ready to build, applications become available. You can join our email list to be notified of any upcoming open application cycles using the form below.
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Do I have to be married or have children to be a Habitat homeowner?
No, your eligibility is not affected by whether you are married or not. Similarly, it is not affected whether you have children or not.
If you are married, both parties must be included on the application as applicant and co-applicant, and both must meet all criteria. We cannot accept your application if you are separated but not legally divorced. Divorce must be final before an application is considered.
Who can be a part of my household? How is my household size determined?
Individuals who are currently living together in the household can be considered when determining household size. A child is only considered in the household size if the applicant has at least 50% custody of that child. Legal guardianship documents must be provided for children you are raising but that are not your biological children. Minor children claimed on your Federal Tax Returns must be listed as dependents/household members on your application. We will require verification of custody of all minor children not claimed on your Federal Tax Returns but are listed on your application. If a person is pregnant during the application process, the unborn child will be counted towards the household size.
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What types of income are counted when I apply?
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All adult household members' income is considered.
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All forms of permanent income are included as a part of the household income and will be considered.
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All income must be documented.
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If an applicant or household member is receiving child support or alimony (and wants it to be considered), they must include a copy of the court order for those payments with their application.
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If an applicant or household member is receiving SSI, Disability, TANF, or Social Security, they must provide a copy of a current monthly statement with their application.
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Temporary income will not be considered.
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Food stamps, SNAP, Section 8, and unemployment benefits are not counted as income.
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If I am accepted into the program, how long before I purchase my home?
The typical time for completing the program is within 9-12 months, after which the purchase process begins. It depends on a variety of factors, including how long it takes you to complete all requirements, Habitat’s current construction schedule, and other considerations.
Application Cycle Email Notification
Applications are currently closed. However, if you wish to be notified of future application cycles, you may submit your information using the form below. We will then notify you by email when applications reopen.
Please note that submitting your information does not constitute an application and does not guarantee a place in the program. It simply adds you to our notification list.