Habitat for Humanity of Denton County

About Habitat for Humanity International

Founded in Americus, Georgia, USA, in 1976, Habitat for Humanity today operates around the globe and has helped build, renovate and repair more than 600,000 decent, affordable hours sheltering more than 3 million people worldwide.

About Habitat for Humanity of Denton County

Our Mission:

Habitat for Humanity of Denton County is a christian ministry in partnership with the community that builds affordable housing for economically disadvantaged families. We focus on families needing a hand up rather than a hand out. We believe decent shelter is a matter of conscience and action. Our goal is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness. Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings together to build homes, communities and hope.

Our Vision:

A world where everyone has a decent place place to live.  

Who We Are:

Habitat for Humanity of Denton County is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God's love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Habitat for Humanity of Denton County is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. 

What We Do:

Habitat Denton County is an independently chartered affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which developed our model of partnership housing. We don't build houses for needy families, we build houses with them. They put in 350-400 hours of work on the construction site alongside thousands of volunteers. Volunteers are one part of what makes the houses we build affordable. The other part is a zero-interest mortgage that allows homeowners to pay back the cost of their house through monthly payments that they can afford.

All Are Welcome:

Habitat for Humanity of Denton County has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to particular faith. 

When We Started:

Habitat for Humanity of Denton County formed in March 2003 through the merger of Habitat for Humanity Denton and Habitat of Greater LewisvilleHabitat for Humanity of Denton County has completed 84 homes. We currently build two to three houses per year and plan to steadily increase as donations and revenues from our retail stores increases.

Where We Build:

In the past the majority of our homes have been built in Denton, Lewisville and Sanger. We look forward to expanding our construction in the smaller outlying towns in the north east and west parts of Denton County.

Why We Help:

More than 12,000 extremely low income families in Denton County are overburdened by the cost of housing, spending more than half of the income on housing costs alone. Even in Denton County’s poorest neighborhoods, rent for an efficiency apartment averages $529 a month and the average rent for a four bedroom apartment is $1277 per month. A new Denton County Habitat homeowner could expect a monthly zero-interest mortgage payment of about $450 as well as low heating and cooling costs due to our energy efficient technologies.

How We Exist:

We can't do this without the help of individuals, businesses, organizations and congregations who provide us with the bulk of our funding and labor. That means you. Please check out the Volunteer and Ways to Give sections of this site and make a commitment to building hope in Denton County.

Want to Know More?

Go to Frequently Asked Questions

 

Permanent Disabled Veteran Guidelines

Qualifications for HfHDC’s Home Ownership Program

 

  • You must have a Veterans Administration status of 100% Disability / Permanent & Total
  • You must provide your DDForm 214 (home of record) and current year copy of your Annual Benefits Letter
  • You must have lived in Denton County for at least one year (excluding deployment time)
  • You must have not previously owned a home
  • You and/or your spouse must provide documentation of employment (If applicable)
  • You must have a satisfactory credit rating and pass a criminal background check
  • Your family size and annual income must fall within the ranges of the Income Guidelines table (listed below)
  • You must be honorably discharged
  • Your household’s debt cannot be more than 40% of income
  • You must currently live in sub-standard housing conditions or, classified as homeless;
  • You and your family must be willing to invest 350/400 sweat equity hours of time to the community; into building your own house and other Habitat partner families’ houses. You may participate in other preferred community service activities, only if pre-approved by the HfHDC Family Services Administrator.

 

NOTE: A deposit of $1,000 or payment arrangement of $50 or more/month can be paid while fulfilling “sweat equity” hours. Payments are due by the 15th of each month. As part of your commitment to the program, a Payment Arrangement and Sweat Equity Work Schedule will be prepared for you to sign. Total deposit is due 30 days PRIOR to signing the closing documents for your new home.

 

*Income Guidelines

Family Size

Minimum Annual Income

Maximum Annual Income

1 to 2

$18,249

$43,450

3 to 4

$22,803

$54,300

5

$24,651

$58,650

6

$26,466

$63,000

7

$28,281

$67,350

8 or more

$30,129

$71,700

Liquid Assets cannot exceed $15,000(Excludes retroactive payments from Veteran’s Office)

 

The Process

  

  • Interested disabled veteran applicants must complete a Pre-Qualification Checklist form. Upon completing the form, applicant must mail this form to the Habitat office (P.O. Box 425 Denton, TX 76202) or leave in the office door mail slot, on or before the specified due date
  • The Pre-Qualification Checklist is used as a preliminary screening process.  If the applicant meets all screening requirements and signs the release authorization section, they will be instructed to provide hard copies of all applicable documents and identification. Upon receipt of all needed documents, an HfHDC Application Form (with a completion deadline date) must be filled out and returned to the HfHDC office.
  • Applicants can pay a $25.00 (non-refundable) processing fee to have HfHDC run their Credit Report, or get an Accredited Credit report from their bank, or request one online: @annualcreditreport.com (877-322-8228)
  • After all the above requirements have been met, HfHDC’s Family Selection/Support Committee reviews each applicant’s complete file of required documents and selects an applicant to be recommended to the Board of Directors for approval
  • The HfHDC application and decision-making process, takes approximately 60-90 days.
  • Newly accepted applicants must sign a letter of intent and attend New Partner Family Orientation prior to starting sweat equity hours. Sweat Equity Requirements: 350 hours (for a single adult family) 400 hours (for a 2 adult family). If needed, a “sweat team” will be solicited to assist veteran families
  • New Partner Families are also required to attend 3-4 “Future Homeownership Workshop” training classes
  • Depending on weather conditions, a typical build takes approximately 14-16 weeks to complete

 

*All applicants who are accepted into the homeownership program are subject to re-qualify every six months until they close on their home.

 

 

Eligibility

Career Phase:
Discharges Allowed:
  • Honorable
  • General Under Honorable
Military Branch:
Programs for Family Members:
Service Counties:
  • Denton
Services Category:
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Basic - Furniture and Household Goods
  • Basic - Home Repair and Retrofitting
VA Disability Rating Requirement:
  • No Disability Requirement
Vet Plus: