Habitat for Humanity taking applications for house in Palouse

PALOUSE — Habitat for Humanity is taking applications for the Habitat Home they are building in Palouse, Washington; the application deadline is Wednesday, May 31.

Habitat for Humanity Director Jennifer Wallace stated that they broke ground Tuesday, May 9, and they’re still looking for a future homeowner.

Wallace explained that the Palouse house would be a 1,200 square foot home.

“If someone is interested or knows someone who might be a good applicant, we encourage people to apply,” Wallace said.

Wallace explained three main criteria for applying for a Habitat Home: ability to pay, need for housing, and willingness to partner with Habitat.

“We build homes for low to working-class families,” she said, adding that includes families of any size from one person on up.

She explained that income must fall within 30 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income in Latah and Whitman Counties.

Wallace noted that applicants could be potentially homeless or apply for any number of reasons, including high rent, overcrowding, or structural issues with their current residence.

“We don’t give away homes,” Wallace said, adding that they count on their homeowners to have a dependable source of income and be willing to build the home with them.

“That’s why our homes are affordable,” Wallace said. “We have amazing volunteers who help build the homes.”

Wallace explained that they are grateful for the volunteers they have, and if the qualifying homeowner puts in their hours volunteering over the ten months it takes to build the house, they can save up a share of the closing costs.

Habitat for Humanity has been building homes on the Palouse once a year since 1992.

“I encourage people to go to our website because our mortgage is different, so people should spend some time on our website to see how we work,” she said, noting that’s a unique opportunity to own a home.

Wallace explained that qualified applicants could also take homeownership classes and pay zero interest on a home worth over $300,000 with an affordable mortgage based on their income.

Wallace stated that most Habitat homeowners have appreciated having a stable place to stay so they don’t have to move from apartment to apartment or be in the hometown they grew up in.

“This is an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty for generations going forward,” she said, noting that it could be an absolute game changer for a family forever.

“I hope everyone who thinks they might qualify or knows someone puts their name in,” Wallace said.

Potential applicants can download the application at palousehabitat.org, drop it off at 309 North Main Street in Moscow, or call (209)-883-8502 line four to get a packet in the mail.