Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity is pleased to announce that applications are available for a unique homeownership opportunity in Florence to own a “just big enough” 1-bedroom home. This small home was designed through a collaborative process with the objective of making the dream of homeownership available to a first-time homebuyer working full-time for the Massachusetts minimum wage of $11/hour.
The application deadline is April 17, 2018. The sale price for the will be $120,000 or less. Eligible applicants will have incomes up to 60% of area median income which is adjusted for family size.
Families interested in submitting an application are invited to attend an information sessions to learn more. During the information session, potential applicants will learn about Habitat’s selection criteria and how to prepare a complete application. The selection criteria include housing need, ability to make mortgage payments of $550 to $990/month, and willingness to partner with Habitat, such as participating in the construction of the home and other Habitat projects.
All homes will be built to ENERGY STAR standards and are designed to be visitable by someone in a wheel chair. All Habitat built homes are restricted to income eligible buyers in perpetuity.
Since 1989, Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity has built decent, affordable homes with 39 low income families in Hampshire and Franklin Counties. We build our homes with volunteer labor and donations of material, supplies, land, and services. At the onset of homebuilding, a family is selected and enters into a long term partnership with Pioneer Valley Habitat. Future homeowners contribute 150 hours of labor during the construction of their home alongside volunteers from the community. Upon completion, the home is sold to the family with an affordable mortgage. Habitat is a hand-up, not a hand-out: the organization has a perpetual legacy in that all mortgage funds received are reinvested to build more homes. We are a housing organization helping to bring stability to families, bringing more stability into our neighborhoods and communities.
