Applications for Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Now Available

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Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley (HFHVV) is now accepting homeowner applications for six homes, which will be located in Gypsum adjacent to Red Hill Elementary School and scheduled for completion in 2019. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 28. These homes will be the first of twelve to be built on 2.3 acres of land donated to HFHVV by the Eagle County School District.

According to the 2018 Eagle River Valley Housing Needs and Solutions study, 99% of renters and 84% of homeowners in Eagle County feel that resident occupied/workforce housing is one of the most critical problems in our community. HFHVV fills a gap as the only developer of “for sale” homes in our county, which are affordable to families earning between 35% and 80% of the area median income (between $30,940 and $70,720 for a family of four). It’s estimated that one in three Eagle River Valley households would qualify for a HFHVV home based on their income.

“My Habitat home means more to me than words can describe,” said Nicole Sisneros, a HFHVV homeowner in Gypsum. “It means that my kids and I will have a permanent roof over our head, a stable foundation to build upon and a place that we can call our own. It makes me so happy to know that I worked so hard for something so necessary for my family.”

After an application has been submitted, all of the info provided is reviewed and verified by HFHVV’s Selection Committee. The criteria for family selection is: need (current shelter is inadequate or applicant is paying too large of a percentage of their income on rent), ability to pay (income, work history, credit score), willingness to partner with Habitat (each homeowner must complete 250 “sweat equity” hours) and residency status (all applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Legal Residents).

“A Habitat home can improve the economic stability of a family, oftentimes breaking the cycle of poverty from one generation to the next,” said Elyse Howard, Development Director for HFHVV. “Stable, affordable housing creates long lasting results that improve the education, income stability and health for the families we serve and for our community.”

HFHVV has one open application period annually and typically selects 5-8 families during an application cycle. Applications are now available online at HabitatVailValley.Org/Own-A-Home or in person at the Habitat Vail Valley office at 455 Nottingham Ranch Road in Avon or the Habitat ReStore at 751 Chambers Road in Eagle. The application deadline is Friday, September 28, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. For more information about HFHVV homeownership, call the Habitat office at (970) 748-6718.

About Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley
Since 1995, Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley has worked to help local families achieve strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Through its efforts 74 Habitat homeowners have built or improved a place they can call home. HFHVV has built and renovated homes in Eagle and Lake Counties in the communities of Leadville, Edwards, Eagle and Gypsum.