YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A HABITAT HOME

Are you seeking the strength, stability and self-reliance of homeownership but finding it out of reach?

• You are unable to qualify for conventional mortgage financing for a market rate home and
• You have a household income under 60% of the Area Median Income adjusted for family size and
• You are a first-time home buyer and
• Your assets are below $75,000

Are you willing to partner with Habitat?

• You are willing to complete the required "sweat equity" on your home and other Habitat projects (500 hours for a two-adult household or 250 hours for a one adult household)
• A typical home takes 10 to 15 months to complete

Are you able to pay an affordable mortgage?

• You are able to make monthly housing payments of approximately $875 to $1,500 and
• You have an annual household income of at least $35,000
• You are not overly burdened with debt and have “good enough” credit

Are you in critical need of affordable housing?

• Your current living situation is poorly built, damaged, unaffordable, unsafe or overcrowded

1. Income: Total current annual household gross income. This includes all wages, child support, social security, disability, and retirement payments. Gross income means before deductions for taxes and insurance.

3. Area Medium Income: Compare your household size and income range, to the appropriate area median income table.

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate in the selection of applicants. Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity is a not-for profit organization and we do business in accordance with Federal and Massachusetts Fair Lending Laws.

Sweat Equity and Unique Habitat for Humanity Partnership Requirements:

• You will be building your own home alongside community volunteers!
• Construction typically takes 10-15 months from the date of wall raising. During this period, you will be usually be dedicating at least one day per week to building your home.
• You will also need to attend pre-purchase education courses.
• The sweat equity requirement is 250 hours per adult in your household, with a maximum of 500 hours.
• Friends and other family members of the home buyer may contribute some sweat equity hours.
• Your sweat equity requirement must be completed before you can purchase your home.
• You will be assigned a volunteer to mentor and support you during the construction period and the first year of homeownership.

Affordability:

• To keep our homes affordable, we rely on cash donations, grants, land donations, volunteerism, and gifts of materials and professional services.
• Purchasers will need to qualify for an affordable mortgage for these Habitat homes.
• The United States Department of Agriculture or another third party may be the lender.
• Habitat homes are deed restricted to continue as affordable homes in perpetuity.
• We will inform you before closing of any additional funding restrictions or liens.

Application Review Process:

• Your complete application will be evaluated for your financial eligibility. If it receives a preliminary approval, it moves to a family interview.
• You will then be contacted for an appointment with two Habitat volunteers who will visit your family in your home or schedule a virtual interview on Zoom. These volunteers will talk with you to answer questions and to review your application with you.
• After your interview, there will be a final review of your application. If qualified, your application number is entered into a drawing / lottery. Successful applicants and other finalists will be notified after the drawing / lottery.
• If your application is rejected at any step in the above process, you will be notified in writing.

Construction of Your Home:

• Habitat does not build custom homes. Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity will be the general contractor and make all construction decisions.
• A combination of volunteer labor and paid labor will go into the construction of your home.
• Because we cannot accurately project an occupancy date, we urge applicants to maintain the best housing circumstances possible until their new home is ready.

More About Habitat for Humanity:

• Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization building strength, stability and self-reliance for families with low incomes in Hampshire and Franklin counties in western Massachusetts.
• Homes are built in partnership with families who have a need for decent, affordable housing and do not have the financial means to build or purchase a market rate home through conventional financing.

If you purchase a home from Habitat you will become a homeowner and will be responsible for all home maintenance costs, taxes, insurance and other liabilities. Homeownership costs typically include things like:

1. A monthly mortgage loan payment*

2. Property taxes*

3. Homeowners Insurance*

4. Condominium fees (if applicable)*

5. Water and sewer bills

6. Electricity (for heat, cooling, lights and all other appliances and plug loads)

7. Phone, cable, internet if desired

8. Maintenance of the home

9. Snow removal and landscaping

*Primary housing costs not to exceed 30% of household gross income at time of purchase

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity commits, if you partner in our program, to sell you a home where your primary housing costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance and condo fees) do not exceed 30% of your gross income at the time you buy your house. Depending on your income, your housing costs at time of purchase may be $875 to $1,500 a month.

Your expenses can change over time and there is no ongoing subsidy to keep your primary housing costs below 30% of your income.

Carefully consider the extra obligations of homeownership to make repairs and pay for additional bills like water and sewer that are typically included in rent.

Down payment and closing costs:

You will need to make a down payment of $1,000, paid in monthly installments of $100 during construction. Habitat will pay reasonable closing costs, but Habitat will not pay for homeowner’s insurance. You will be required to shop and pre pay for a year of homeowner’s insurance before closing (typically $750 to $1,500/year

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one applicant information meeting/workshop. Please click this link to RSVP.

In person workshop Monday April 14, 2025 at 6pm

• Greenfield Public Library 412 Main Street Greenfield, MA 01301

Virtual workshop Sunday May 4, 2025 at 4pm, using Zoom on your phone or computer.

• Sign up at https://pvhabitat.org/apply

2025 Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity Application – Equal Housing Opportunity https://pvhabitat.org/apply - 413-517-8326 - apply@pvhabitat.org

Applications may be completed online or on paper.

If you have questions or need help applying, please email apply@pvhabitat.org or call 413-517-8326.

Online Application (You are filling it out now!)

• Go to https://pvhabitat.org/apply and complete your application and upload supporting documents using Jotform.
• You can choose to “save and continue” later, but make sure the form is submitted before the deadline.

Paper Application:

• Paper applications may be obtained by:
  • Downloading the application from the Habitat website https://pvhabitat.org/apply and printing 
  • Visiting the Habitat for Humanity office at 140 Pine Street, Room #4, in Florence, MA. Applications are available in the hallway even if the office is closed. There are stairs. 
  • Visiting the public library: Greenfield Public Library at 412 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
  • Visiting City Hall in Greenfield 
  • Attending an information session in person and picking up a paper copy
  • Calling or emailing to request an application be mailed or emailed to you: 413-517-8326 (Habitat office)
• Submit your completed application and copies of documents: 
  • Mail your application to PVHH PO Box 60642, Florence, MA 01062. 
  • Drop off your application in our office lock box at 140 Pine Street, Room #3, in Florence, MA (do not mail to this address)

Uploading additional documents if required:

• Upload supporting documents saved on your phone or computer securely at https://pvhabitat.leapfile.net
  • Choose “Secure Upload o Enter apply@pvhabitat.org as the Recipient Email
  • Enter your contact information and a note
  • On the secure upload page, select all the files you need to upload, and click “upload & send”

The completed application packet must be received in the Habitat Office, uploaded or postmarked on or before Tuesday, May 13, 2025 for your application to move forward. A mailed application must be received no later than 5 business days after the postmark. Applications may NOT be submitted by fax or email.

Don’t have everything ready by the deadline? The application deadline is firm, but incomplete applications will be accepted. Submit what you can by the deadline to ensure your application receives an initial review.

Please try and submit as complete an application as soon as possible to assist in a timely review process. If your application is incomplete, you will receive a follow up notification requesting the missing information with a deadline for sending in the remaining items.

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity will be building one single-family home on a small lot on Birch Street in Greenfield, MA. The home that previously occupied this lot was demolished in 2023 after it fell into disrepair. A new home will be built on the lot starting construction in 2025

Located conveniently in the small city of Greenfield, MA, this home is in a quiet neighborhood near the end of Birch Street. In just a half mile walk, you can reach Federal Street to go to the pharmacy or walk a bit further to get to restaurants, hardware stores, bookstores, and more.

Franklin County Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) buses stop on Federal Street about a half mile from the house and the John W. Olver Transit Center is approximately 1¼ miles away. If you are driving, you are just two miles away from Route 91, a major highway running north to south in western Massachusetts.

Habitat plans to build a one-story, 2-bedroom home on this site that will be adaptable for someone with mobility impairments.

Habitat homes are modest and simple with small square footages. The home will be energy efficient and built to ENERGY STAR standards. The home will be all electric and heated with an Air Source Heat Pump. Outdoor storage in an attached shed will be provided. The home will be built on a slab – so there will be no basement storage. There will also be no attic storage since the attic will be reserved for insulation. Basic appliances will be provided with the house. There will not be a garage.

Note: Renderings are not a promise of specific house design features but an approximation of plans for this project. PV Habitat retains the right to change plans at their discretion.

Elevation by Austin Design from previous Habitat project

Applications are available starting March 12, 2025

The application deadline is May 13, 2025

Include the names of any child or adults (other than the applicant) who will live in your Habitat Home as their principal residence:

If yes, please supply documentation of their full-time student status. Up-to-date receipts of payment of registration or a letter provided by the high school or college are examples. Add another page, if needed, to write details.

Please include income from ALL household members age 18 or older (even if they are temporarily away) who receive income. Add another page, if needed to write details. If employed for less than two years at your primary job, add details of previous employment on a separate page to be scanned with your documents. If you are still employed, please leave the end date blank.

I/We currently receive the following types and amounts of monthly assistance:

If you have lived at your current address less than two years, list previous landlord info:

Enter dollar amount for every item OR enter a “0” if item does not apply to applicant/co-applicant. Please complete every item.

APPLICANT:

CO-APPLICANT:

Answering “YES” to any of the above questions DOES NOT automatically disqualify you. If you answered “YES” to any question, however, please explain on a separate sheet of paper.

The above is a complete and true representation of all household assets, debts, credit, and complete information as requested.

Sweat Equity/ Partnership Question: Our sweat equity requirement is rigorous! Habitat homebuyers are required to work 250 hours each on building the home, with a maximum of 500 hours per household. You would not be allowed to move into the home until the hours are completed. This requires approximately eight hours a week on a Habitat construction site during the months that the home is being built. Some weeks there will also be a required meeting or home ownership preparation workshop to attend. Some weeks there will be no sweat equity opportunities available due to weather or subcontractor delays, and you will need to plan to make up time another week. You do not need to be experienced in construction. We train and guide you in your sweat equity as you work side-by-side with other volunteers.

If any condition (disability) will restrict some aspect of your participation on the construction site, please let us know so we can make accommodation plans with you. PVHH will adjust the type of work to match your abilities and/or adjust the number of hours to be completed by friends and family. The sweat equity plan will be unique to you but in most cases will not involve a total reduction in hours required.

• Please provide documentation from your physician of the specific medical restrictions that will limit which tasks you are assigned.

OR, if a disability of a dependent household member (because of their extraordinary or specialized care needs) may severely challenge your ability to personally perform the total number of hours usually required by adult household members, you may request a modification in the percentage of hours that may be done by friends and family.

• Provide documentation of the disability from the physician.
• Describe how the care they need (while you are absent) is more specialized than general babysitting.
• How much extra help will you need from your friends and family to complete your sweat equity?

Attach additional pages if needed.

I understand that by filing this application, I am authorizing Habitat for Humanity to evaluate my need for the Habitat homeownership program, my ability to repay an affordable loan and other expenses of homeownership, and my willingness to be a partner through sweat equity and otherwise according to Habitat for Humanity policy.

I understand that the evaluation will include personal visits, a credit check and employment verification (if applicable). I have answered all the questions on this application truthfully and accurately, and if any of the information provided changes after I submit this application, I will supplement this application, as applicable. I understand that if I have not answered the questions truthfully, accurately or completely, or fail to supplement this application as necessary to maintain its accuracy and completeness, my application may be denied, and that even if I have already been selected to receive a Habitat home, I may be disqualified from the program and forfeit any rights or claims to a Habitat home. The original or a copy of this application will be retained by Habitat for Humanity even if the application is not approved.

If this application is created as (or converted into) an “electronic application,” I consent to the use of “electronic records” and “electronic signatures” as the terms are defined in and governed by applicable federal and/or state electronic transaction laws. I intend to sign and have signed this application either using my: (a) electronic signature or (b) a written signature and agree that if a paper version of this application is converted into an electronic application, the application will be an electronic record, and the representation of my written signature on this application will be my binding electronic signature.

I also understand that Habitat for Humanity screens all applicants on the sex offender registry. By completing this application, I am submitting myself to such an inquiry. I further understand that by completing this application, I am submitting myself to a criminal background check.

I have received the full application package with important disclosures about the Habitat for Humanity program including a copy of our privacy policy.

Applicants, and other adults residing in the home, must sign below to show agreement with above paragraph. This is required for your application to be considered.

If you are approved for a Habitat home, print below how your name should appear on legal documents:

The purpose of collecting this information is to help ensure that all applicants are being treated fairly, that the housing needs of communities and neighborhoods are being fulfilled, and to otherwise evaluate our programs and report to our funders. For residential mortgage lending, Federal law requires that we ask applicants for their demographic information (ethnicity, sex and race) in order to monitor our compliance with equal credit opportunity, fair housing and home mortgage disclosure laws. You are not required to provide this information but are encouraged to do so. You may select one or more designations for “Ethnicity” and one or more designations for “Race.” The law provides that we may not discriminate on the basis of this information or on whether you choose to provide it. However, if you choose not to provide the information and you have made this application in person, federal regulations require us to note your ethnicity, sex and race on the basis of visual observation or surname. The law also provides that we may not discriminate on the basis of age or marital status information you provide in this application. If you do not wish to provide some or all of this information, please check below.

The Federal Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits creditors from discriminating against credit applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status or age (provided the applicant has the capacity to enter into a binding contract); because all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance program; or because the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The federal agency that monitors compliance with this law concerning this company is the Federal Trade Commission, with offices at FTC Regional Office for the Northeast region, Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington DC 20580 or Federal Trade Commission, Equal Credit Opportunity, Washington,

You need not disclose income from alimony, child support or separate maintenance payment if you choose not to do so. However, because we operate a Special Purpose Credit Program, we may request and require, in order to determine an applicant’s eligibility for the program and the affordable mortgage amount, information regarding the applicant’s marital status; alimony, child support and separate maintenance income; and the spouse’s financial resources. Accordingly, if you receive income from these sources and do not provide this information with your application, your application will be considered incomplete, and we will be unable to invite you to participate in the Habitat program.

AFFORDABLE HOME DEED RIDER: This home will be sold with a deed rider that preserves it as an affordable home in the future. This rider will limit the sales price of the house in the future so that it will be affordable again to an income eligible household. The rider will also require the home to be used as your primary residence. Renting of the home is not allowed; any refinancing or capital improvements will need the approval of the Town, Habitat and The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC A copy of the deed rider may be reviewed at: https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/10/16/lipdeedrider_0.pdf. A summary will be provided to successful home buyers.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME MORTGAGE POLICY: We require all applicants selected in the Habitat lottery to apply for a mortgage. Once the new home buyer has entered into an agreement to purchase their home, they must utilize a mortgage program from a third-party lender, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture 502 low-interest mortgage) or Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity.

ADDITIONAL MORTGAGES AND RESTRICTIONS: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity sometimes gets grants to help pay for the construction of your home. These grants may have additional requirements such as tracking energy use, a performance mortgage or a requirement that the home be sold only to income eligible households. We will inform you before closing of any funding restrictions.

NON-DISCRIMINATION: Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity does not discriminate in the selection of applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, ancestry, children, familial status, genetic information, marital status, public assistance recipiency, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran/military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

FINANCIAL INTEREST: Individuals who have a financial interest in the development and their families shall not be eligible.

PRIVACY NOTICE is enclosed in this packet.

APPRAISAL DISCLOSURE: If you are selected to purchase a home, we may order an appraisal to determine the property’s value. We will promptly give you a copy of any appraisal, even if your loan does not close. You can pay for an additional appraisal for your own use at your own cost.

LOTTERY PREFERENCES: There are certain preferences in the final lottery of eligible candidates:

1. Households with a disability who need units with accessible or adaptable features, i.e. a one-story home for a household that includes a person with a mobility impairment requiring one-story living as a reasonable accommodation.

2. Households that need the number of bedrooms offered.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: persons with disabilities have the right to request a reasonable accommodation related to the home, or to some aspect of the Habitat process. Please see the “Living Situation” section of the Application, asking if a modification will be needed to the home, and the Sweat Equity Form, where we ask about restrictions to your participation and what you will be able to do. You must document that you/a household member has a disability, and the relevant restrictions for the accommodations you are requesting.

To qualify you must be a “first time homebuyer.” However, there are several important EXCEPTIONS. If any of these exceptions describe YOUR situation, you may still be considered a qualified “first time home buyer” for the purposes of this application.

First time homebuyer means: The household shall not have owned a home within three years preceding the application.

Exceptions to this rule include:

1. Displaced homemakers, where the displaced homemaker (an adult who has not worked full-time, full-year in the labor force for a number of years but has, during such years, worked primarily without remuneration to care for the home and family), while a homemaker, owned a home with his or her partner or resided in a home owned by the partner.
2. Single parents, where the individual owned a home with his or her partner or resided in a home owned by the partner and is a single parent (is unmarried or legally separated from a spouse and either has one or more children of whom the individual has custody or joint custody, or is pregnant.
3. Households where at least one household member is 55 or over. 
4. Households that owned a principal residence not permanently affixed to a permanent foundation in accordance with applicable regulations; and households that owned a property that was not in compliance with state, local or model building codes and that cannot be brought into compliance for less than the cost of constructing a permanent structure.

Please note: Even if you qualify for the exception, your previously owned home must be sold before you apply

INCOME

• All income of all adults 18 or older who are members of the household to live in the Habitat home (even if temporarily away) must be reported.
• Most of the income of full-time students over 18, other than head of household or spouse, will be disregarded for eligibility purposes as long as their student status is documented (but it still must be reported and documented
• Adult household members with zero income must sign a certification of zero income.
• There are very few sources of income that are not counted as income. You should report all income. If you have a question whether a source should be counted, list and document it, and put that question in your cover note. (Examples may include certain one-time payments, or compensation specifically for medical expenses)
• Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity uses the standards of HUD 24 CFR 24 5.609 and LIP guidelines in considering what income to count, and the required methodology of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Affordable Housing Program.

ASSETS

All assets of all household members, including minor children, should be listed in the application with their value, and documented. There is a $75,000 asset limitation to qualify as an affordable home ownership applicant under the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) Ch. 40B program (which governs the homes you are applying for with Habitat Habitat’s reference for what assets shall be considered is HUD Handbook (6/07) Exhibit 5-2: Assets. Common assets are cash (including the cash from lump sum payments, even if not counted as income) held in bank accounts or in other ways, revocable trusts, rental or capital investment income, stocks, bonds, treasury bills, C.D.s, retirement accounts, if the holder has access to the funds (even with a penalty), face value of whole (not term) life insurance, and others. Excluded from the limit is certain personal property (such as car, furniture, wedding ring, and other) that is not held as an investment, and assets (other than owned rental property) that is part of an active business. All assets should be reported. The Habitat’s credit reviewers will reference the referenced standards if this may make a difference in an applicant’s eligibility for our program.

At Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, we are committed to keeping your information private. We recognize the importance applicants, program families, tenants, and homeowners place on the privacy and confidentiality of their information. While new technologies allow us to more efficiently serve our customers, we are committed to maintaining privacy standards that are synonymous with our established and trusted name.

We collect nonpublic personal information about you from the following sources:

• Information we receive from you on applications or other forms;
• Information about your transactions with us or others; and
• Information we receive from a consumer reporting agency.

Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity employees and volunteers are subject to a written policy regarding confidentiality, and access to applicant data is restricted to staff and volunteers on an as-needed basis. When collecting, storing, and retrieving applicant, program family, and homeowner data – such as tax returns, pay stubs, credit reports, employment verifications and payment history – internal controls are maintained throughout the process to ensure security and confidentiality.

We may disclose nonpublic personal information about you to the following types of third parties, only as necessary to effect, administer or enforce a transaction for you:

• Financial service providers, such as mortgage servicing agents;
• Nonprofit organizations, government entities, or other subsidy providers.

We may disclose the following kinds of nonpublic personal information about you may be shared only with the above third parties:

• Information we receive from you on applications or other forms, such as your name, address, social security number, assets and income;
• Information about your transactions with us or others such as your loan balance and payment history; and
• Information we receive from a consumer reporting agency such as your creditworthiness and credit history.

Your information is never shared with non-affiliated third parties for any other purpose.

The following materials are required to complete your application for a Habitat home. Incomplete and / or late applications will not move forward. Please complete this checklist. Keep it. Keep copies the application. Do NOT send original documents – only copies. Your application and supporting docs will NOT be returned.

• Note: We require Federal IRS returns only – NOT your MA or other state returns
• Even though you signed the tax return when it was filed, you need to sign it again if you submit paper copies.
• If you do not have copies of your tax returns, you should immediately take steps to request them. We need a copy of the actual tax return. To receive official IRS printouts of Income Tax Returns: Call 1-800-829-1040 or contact your local IRS office.
• If you are still waiting for a copy, enclose a note stating the returns you have requested of the IRS and on what date you made your request.
• If you did NOT file an IRS return for any of these years, enclose a signed letter explaining why you did not have a legal obligation to file a tax return for that year.