Habitat for Humanity selects families based on four criteria:

NEED Families must be currently living in substandard housing, which includes:

—Present housing is unsafe or unsuitable because of problems with electricity, plumbing, heating, handicap accessibility, structure, etc

—There are too many people for the number of bedrooms

—Multiple families are living under one roof

—Current housing costs exceed 30% of the family’s annual gross income

ABILITY TO PAY Families’ annual gross income must fall between 20-60% of the Flathead Valley median income and the family must be able to afford the 30 year no-interest mortgage

WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER Families must be willing to complete a homeowner education course, the First Time Home Buyers course, complete 500 hours of sweat equity and work through a mentoring program to prepare for the responsibilities of homeownership

RESIDENCY Families must have lived in the Flathead Valley for at least one year