749 Ryan Drive, Hudson WI 54016
How does this work?
Home Ownership with Habitat
At St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity, everyone is welcome.
We believe Everyone deserves a safe place to live. And partnerships require shared effort and investment. Habitat does NOT give away homes for free. Approved family partners, who meet low-income guidelines set by HUD, show need for safe, affordable shelter, pay an affordable mortgage, contribute hundreds of hours to help build their home.
Need
Families may find themselves in need of decent shelter due to a variety of circumstances — unpredictable rent increases, overcrowded living conditions, damaged or dilapidated structures, unsafe neighborhoods, or lack of access to land and affordable financing.
When families partner with Habitat, they start down a new path — one with far fewer barriers to a better, healthier, more financially stable life.
Income-guidelines and Financial Expectations
Prospective households are low to moderate income. We partner with families whose income does not exceed 60% of the area median income as defined for the area by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Homeowners must also be able and willing to pay an affordable mortgage. Habitat makes a reasonable effort to ensure that an affordable mortgage does not exceed 30% of the homeowner’s gross monthly income. Mortgage payments are cycled back into the community to help build additional Habitat houses.
Willingness to Partner
Habitat homeowners play a hands-on role in the homeownership process, beginning with the sweat equity hours they perform. To fulfill sweat equity hours, they work alongside volunteers to help build and renovate the places they will call home. Some also work toward this requirement by putting in time at our Habitat ReStore, while others may serve on committees or help out in our local Habitat office. Future homeowners are also required to attend financial education and budget-planning classes.