Habitat for Humanity has enabled our family to not only own our own home, but they have strengthened our faith, renewed our belief in humanity, offered us friendship, allowed us to gain stability, and establish a happy and hopeful future for our children.

Diane Ahrens, Family Partner

Application Process

Applying for a home with South Shore Habitat for Humanity

How it Works:

When South Shore Habitat is just about ready to begin construction on a new home, the Family Selection Process begins. First, one or two Housing Application Meetings are held. Families interested in applying for the home must attend one of these meetings, since it is the only way to get an application for a home. Families then fill out the applications and turn them in at the specified location and time. Our Family Selection Committee reads through the applications and visits families at their respective homes to determine the families that meet our criteria, but also have the most need for a simple, decent home. Finally, with help from the Board of Directors, one family is chosen.

The selected family immediately starts their "sweat equity" hours. After completing the required number of hours, the family purchases the home at cost and pays a 20-year, zero-interest mortgage loan financed by Habitat for Humanity. The family pays monthly mortgage payments in addition to paying property taxes, insurance, and home up-keep. South Shore Habitat for Humanity uses the principal payments to finance future home construction or renovations for other families with housing needs in the South Shore area.

Who Can Apply:

Families who can demonstrate a severe housing need, whose income is within Habitat guidelines, and who are willing to partner with South Shore Habitat for Humanity are encouraged to apply to purchase a home. Families will be chosen without respect to age, sex, sexual preference, disability, race, religion, or national origin.

The Application:

Prospective homeowners are required to attend a Housing Application Meeting in order to apply for a South Shore Habitat home. Applications are only available at these meetings. We do not have a waiting list and do not mail applications to anyone who has not attended a meeting.

For Housing Application Meeting information, please download and submit the Information Sheet to be contacted regarding our next meetings or call 781-337-7744 ext 10.

At the Housing Application Meetings, prospective homeowners will receive a six-page application, which will ask for the following:

Current Living Situation: Current living arrangements, sources of income, cost of rent, who currently lives with the prospective homeowners, who would live with the prospective homeowners in the Habitat home.
Financial Information: Savings, pensions, investments, bankruptcies, tax liens, credit history, family budget worksheet, proof of income, latest Federal Tax Return or W2 forms.
Employment Information: Current employer's information, job history, job title, income.
Statement of Need: Prospective homeowners will be asked to write a short letter describing how South Shore Habitat can help their family with their housing situation.

The Application Process:

Application to Qualification takes approximately 6-8 weeks, depending on the number of applicants.

After receiving an application at one of the Housing Application Meetings, prospective homeowners will be given about two weeks to fill it out. Applications must be returned on or before the specified date to South Shore Habitat (20 Mathewson Drive, Weymouth).

About 2-3 weeks after applications are returned, the Family Selection Committee will call to arrange for a home visit to interview the qualified applicants and to inspect their current housing situation.

After completing all the necessary home visits, the Family Selection Committee will review and verify all the information on the applications and present several qualified families to the Board of Directors, who will make the final decision. All applicants will be notified verbally and in writing of the Board's decision.