What it Means to Become a Partner Family

Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity does not build homes for families, we build homes with families in partnership. Partner families must invest between 350 and 500 hours of sweat equity (labor) into the building of their home and other area Habitat homes. The home is then sold to the partner family via a no-interest or subsidized-interest loan on a 20- to 30-year mortgage—at no profit to Habitat. Each homeowner's monthly mortgage payment goes into a revolving fund that we used to build more Habitat homes in Kittitas County.

We are not accepting applications at this time.

Partner family applications submitted by Dec. 16, 2011 are being reviewed. Two partner families will be selected by the board of directors in Jan. 2012.

Primary Selection Criteria

We have three primary criteria for selecting a Habitat partner family:

1. Need for Adequate Shelter Habitat builds homes for low-income families whose present housing is inadequate.
2. Ability to Pay Applicants need to have the financial resources to pay a low monthly mortgage.
3. Willingness to Partner Applicants need to be willing to commit to the required number of sweat equity hours and to becoming part of the Habitat family.

Additional Selection Criteria

We consider several additional factors during the decision-making process.

Income Level and Credit History  The income level that qualifies you for a Habitat home is between 30% and 50% of the current median income level in Kittitas County. Your total family income is what we use to determine your eligibility. This should be a steady source of income, so that you will be able to afford monthly mortgage payments on a house. Your credit history will be investigated.

Sweat Equity  You and your family must be willing to put in between 350 and 500 hours of unpaid volunteer work on various Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity projects. We call this sweat equity, and it is required of all Habitat families. Once you are accepted as a Habitat partner family, you may be helping to build houses other than your own. If you have a physical limitation that would keep you from swinging a hammer or performing other manual labor, you can help with office work, volunteer coordination and newsletter mailings. Your willing participation in these projects not only helps further the work of Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity, it also shows your sincerity and commitment to the partnership.

Housing Condition  Is your current home or apartment inadequate? Are you sharing a home with another family? Is it structurally unsafe? Is there poor or no insulation? Is it unheated or inadequately heated in the winter? Is it too small for your family?

Time  Are you prepared to wait as long as two years for your home to be built? Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity is not an emergency housing program, nor is it a quick fix for your current housing situation. Our goal is to build communities as well as homes, and this process takes time. We are providing permanent, long-term housing for our partner families.

Home Assignment and Acceptance  You must be willing to accept the home assigned to your family. We make this decision based upon the size and needs of your family. Habitat for Humanity homes are basic, decent homes; they do not have formal dining rooms, wood stoves, fire places, garages or decks. In most cases, there will be only one bathroom.

Closing Costs and Monthly House Payments  Once accepted as a partner family candidate, you must begin saving money each month to pay the closing costs on your Habitat home mortgage. This money must be paid before you can move into your home. You must also agree to make regular, monthly house payments. It is important to make these payments on time because your mortgage payments go toward building homes for future partner families.

Public Relations  Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity relies upon the goodwill of our community. Our primary sources of support are donations and volunteer labor contributed by individuals and groups in Kittitas County. You and your family may be asked to pose for photos or be interviewed by the media as part of our effort to increase the public's awareness of Habitat's presence in our community. More important, as a Habitat partner family you must be willing to maintain your Habitat home in a manner that speaks well of the organization. This means that you are expected to keep your home and lot in good order and not engage in any activities that are disruptive to the community or are in any way illegal.

Meet Our Partner Families



House 10: The Rasmusson Family
Groundbreaking: 7/31/2010
Dedication: 5/22/2011




House 9
The Peratrovich Family
Groundbreaking: 11/7/2009
Dedication: 5/16/2010




House 8
The Medina Family
Groundbreaking: 5/17/2008
Dedication: 6/14/2009