Thank you for your interest in Homeownership through Habitat for Humanity!

​Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity builds new construction homes in Brown County and sells them to individuals at a 0% interest mortgage. Habitat for Humanity offers a Homeownership Program to qualified low-to moderate income individuals and families who cannot qualify for a conventional loan. Habitat homes are build simple, decent, and affordable. These Habitat homes are made affordable using volunteer labor to build homes in addition to the interest-free mortgage provided by Habitat. It is important to know that the Habitat Homeownership Program does not give homes away, and Habitat homes are not free. Habitat homeowners make monthly payments set approximately 28-30% of the buyer/owner's gross income. When a Habitat homeowner makes their monthly payment, it includes the mortgage, property taxes and the homeowner's insurance.  Meet our current Homeownership Program families and see what we're working on by visiting our Current Builds page!

Requirements to Qualify for Home Buyer Program

Need for Improved Housing
Based on current housing conditions, there must be a demonstrated need in order to qualify for a Habitat home.

Ability to Pay
In the Homeownership Program, applicants are applying to purchase a home. Applicants must fall within 30-80% of Brown County's Area Median Income (AMI), based on family size, and have a reliable source of income (employment, SSI, etc.) to pay an affordable, interest-free mortgage.

Willingness to Partner
Must be willing to complete 250-500 volunteer hours (based on number of homebuyers) building their home, be a community partner, and represent Habitat for Humanity in a positive manner within the community.

Program Qualifications 

1

Need for Housing
Based on current housing conditions, there must be a demonstrated need in order to qualify for a Habitat home. Some examples of need are outlined below. This list is not all-inclusive.

• Unsanitary conditions or health risks out of the applicant(s) control.
• Currently living in temporary/transitional housing, living in Section 8 housing or other housing programs.
• Your home is overcrowded.
• Current housing does not meet the physical needs of the household member(s)
• Unable to obtain a conventional or government assisted mortgage

---

2

Ability to Pay
Since our Homeownership Program families will be buying a Habitat home, applicants must show that they have the ability to pay for the home.

• Applicant(s) can afford to pay the monthly house payment set at approximately 28-30% of gross monthly income (principal, taxes and insurance are included in the monthly payment), and projected monthly utilities (i.e. electric, gas, water, sewer). 
• Applicant(s) must have a source of stable income that may include wages from a job, SSI, Social Security, child support, public assistance, or alimony.
  • ​Wages from employment, applicants must be employed at the same company for a minimum of two (2) years. 
  • Temporary jobs are generally not considered permanent.
  • If self-employed, a year-to-date profit and loss statement is required.
• Debt: applicant's credit history does not need to be perfect, and many applicants have some debt. However, it is important for applicants to know how much they owe and the total amount of debt to income. 
• Applicant(s) must not have filed bankruptcy within the past two (2) years. 
• Applicant(s) must not have outstanding debt such  as collections, liens, or judgements that cannot be reasonably paid by the completion of the home.
  • Past due accounts must be under $2,000. 
• It is recommended that the applicant(s) obtain a free copy of their credit score report to ensure all credit is reported accurately - you can visit www.annualcreditreport.com.
• Total household income falls within the minimum and maximum income limits in the following chart:

---

3

Willingness to Partner
Willingness to partner means working hard to earn a Habitat home, but what does that look like for the future Habitat homebuyer? 

• Applicants must be willing to work in partnership with Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity with positive and active involvement in the Homeownership Program. 
• Homeownership Program participants fulfil sweat equity, labor that you and your family must provide during and after the construction of your home. Applicant(s) must be willing to complete 250-500 sweat equity hours by attending classes and workshops, working at the Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity ReStore, participating in Habitat or ReStore events, and building their home  or other Habitat homes. 
• Represent Habitat well in the community and be a good neighbor.​

---

Additional Applicant Requirements

• Live in Brown County, Wisconsin for at least six (6) months.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Wisconsin is a marital property state and Habitat requires married couples to apply jointly. 
• Divorce proceedings must be finalized.
• All adult household members over the age of 18 must sign a general release for a background check and other verification.
• It is important to determine who the homebuyer will be when there are multiple adults who are planning to live in the home permanently. 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity applications are currently closed. 

To be contact when the next application cycle opens, click the button below to submit your contact information.

Application cycle and submissions are subject to be paused at the discretion of Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity. Applicants must be Brown County residents, and if interested in applying for the Homeownership Program are required to watch the application presentation in-full before submitting all documents and the application.

To contact our Family Services department with questions, please email [email protected]. 

Why Apply for a Habitat Home? 

Affordability
Habitat homes in Brown County, Wisconsin are affordable for people and families and do not exceed 30% of gross monthly income. Monthly house payments included taxes and insurance.

Coaching & Education
Habitat Partner Families learn about budgeting for their future home and how to prepare financially for homeownership. Other group classes will help Habitat homebuyers learn various aspects of home maintenance and preparation for homeownership. We want our Habitat Partner Families to be successful homeowners!

A Trusted Partner
Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity has been building homes in Brown County since 1987. As of 2021, we have built 126 homes and counting! That means 126 families in our community (over 250 adults and over 300 children) have been impacted by the work of Greater Green Bay Habitat. 

Tools & Resources
Through the partnership with a Habitat home buyer, families work closely with our staff as well as community volunteers. Habitat home buyers receive invaluable experience while working on sweat equity hours on the build site and in the Restore. Participating in the construction of a Habitat home will equip our Habitat Partner Families with skills to help them maintain and repair their home in the future. Even after the Habitat home is complete, our Habitat staff remains available to provide homeowners with resources and assistance after the family purchases their home, and we remain the primary contact for any questions or concerns related to the home loan.  

NEED MORE TIME BEFORE APPLYING TO THE HOMEBUYER PROGRAM?

Learn About "Almost Home" - A Program To Prepare You for the Homebuyer Program

Not quite ready to apply for the Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program? Learn more about our Almost Home program; aiming to help people who are unsure if they qualify or not for the Homeownership Program and navigate the complicated steps towards becoming "mortgage ready." 

Non-Proselytizing Policy
Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations (HFH) will not proselytize. Nor will HFH work with entities or individuals who insist on proselytizing as part of their work with HFH. This means that HFH will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must (i) adhere to or convert to a particular faith or (ii) listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.