Homeownership

Each of our Habitat homeowners go through a rigorous application process. Each qualified applicant must complete at least 250 hours of sweat-equity, which includes completing financial literacy courses and a home maintenance class. Approved homebuyers will receive a mortgage that is made affordable specifically to them; making a reasonable effort to ensure their mortgage payment does not exceed 30% of their gross monthly income.

Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna relies on financial and in-kind support to continue our mission of helping low-income applicants become homeowners. Currently only 4% of our building materials are donated, the remaining 96% are purchased through financial donations. Your financial support to Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna keeps your charity dollars local. Local giving is a win-win for us all, improving our neighborhoods and home values through homeownership. Please view our most recent brochure: Homeownership Program Brochure 2025

Eligibility Criteria for the Homeownership Program

1. HOUSING NEED

- Qualified applicants must demonstrate a need for safe, affordable housing. Need is determined by home visits.

- Examples of need include structural problems, inadequate living space, safety, and stability.

2. ABILITY TO PAY

- Current employment, bank accounts, credit reports and landlord references will be checked to verify the applicant(s) ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment. Each mortgage payment is then used to build future Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna homes.

- To qualify financially, the minimum income of an applicant must be $35,000 annually to afford a Habitat mortgage and not exceed the highest income listed below:

Effective 6/15/2024	1 Person Home	2 Person Home	3 Person Home	4 Person Home	5 Person Home	6 Person Home	7 Person Home	8 Person Home
Cecil County Highest Income	$64,250	$73,400	$82,600	$91,750	$99,100	$106,450	$113,800	$121,150
Harford County Highest Income	$68,450	$78,200	$88,000	$97,750	$105,600	$113,400	$121,250	$129,050

3. WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER

Timeliness, honesty, and eagerness are all necessary to partner with Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna. Sweat Equity is crucial to our concept of “willingness to partner” and is the actual hands-on physical involvement of approved home buyers. This active participation allows families to turn their homeownership dreams into reality. These hours are not monetary contributions toward their home but, required volunteer hours.

Required Sweat Equity hours:

– Single-Applicant 250 total sweat equity hours required
– Two-Applicants 500 total sweat equity hours required

Examples of Sweat Equity: Construction of Habitat homes, classes in homeowner education and budgeting, office assistance, preparing or serving food to volunteers, school grades of applicants’ children, self-development, community development, etc.

4. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

Applicant(s) must live in Cecil or Harford County for at least one year prior to their application and be a permanent legal resident of the United States OR a United States citizen.

2025 Homeownership Orientation Meeting Schedule

Until further notice, all orientations will be held on the internet via Zoom.

Daytime Orientations: None scheduled at this time.

Evening Orientations: Wednesday 6pm

- January 15th
- February 19th
- March 19th
- April 16th
- May 21st
- June 18th
- July 16th
- August 20th
- September 17th
- October 15th
- November 19th

F.A.Q. Download

How can I apply for the Habitat homeownership program?

To attend, please fill out the interest form below.

To understand all the requirements, please fill out the Homeownership Interest Form link below and attend an applicant orientation meeting. Please call the Homeownership Program Manager, Heather Gibson, at 443-903-9684 or hgibson@habitatsusq.org with any questions or further details.

To attend, please fill out the interest form below and press the Submit button.

You will receive a confirmation in a separate email with details about the upcoming Orientation.

Homeownership Interest Form

Financial Literacy Classes

(Open to the public – all are welcome!)

APG Federal Credit Union in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna is conducting FREE financial workshops at their Home Loan Center in Bel Air. For more details click here.

Reservations are required. Please contact Dee Barretto at 410-612-2361 or at workshopRSVP@apgfcu.com

Home Maintenance Class

(Open to the public – all are welcome!)

Habitat for Humanity’s home maintenance class is an informative 1-hour session on how to properly upkeep your home. We focus on specific seasonal maintenance such as how to’s on heat and AC units, weatherization, creating a more energy efficient home and much more. A certificate of achievement will be given at the end of class.

Our next class will be TBA. Classes are currently held via Zoom. Call 443-903-9684 to reserve your spot.

Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna is a mortgage lender.

Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna does not discriminate against any applicant because of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

NMLS Consumer Assess nmlsconsumeraccess.org

Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna NMLS #1439405

Heather Gibson NMLS #138016

Our Homeowner Stories

Felicia
LaTera
Jade
Julia
Yaraly
Amanda
Your Story
More Homeowner Stories

Felicia’s Story

Hello, I am a mother of three wonderful children. I work two different jobs to support my family. One of these jobs being a pharmacy technician at ShopRite Pharmacy. In the last couple years my children and I have moved multiple times due to unfortunate situations. As my children get older, I would love to be able to buy a house they can call home.

LaTera’s Story

I am a single mom of two daughters. My oldest daughter has Cerebral Palsy. She doesn’t walk or talk.

We live in an apartment with only one bedroom and a den. I have to carry her up and down steps. She is over 50 lbs. and cannot carry her wheelchair up the stairs as it is too heavy.

I applied for Habitat over 9-years ago and was told I needed to work on my credit. I am happy to say I did just that and here I am today. I chose Habitat because I have heard great stories and I believe this will be the best way for me to become a homeowner. I have worked at my job for over 12-years. I pay my bills on time and I know I would be a great homeowner.

This experience would be life changing.

Jade’s Story

I am a single parent of four. We’ve had to move multiple times in our life due to landlords selling the house, raising rent, or not wanting to renew the lease. It is devastating when you have to move unexpectedly and live in motels or in someone else’s home. I think my kids resent me for all this which breaks my heart.

I am working hard to make ends meet. I try my best to provide for my family making any sacrifices I have to. I want the best for my children and having a home to call our own without someone dangling a roof over my head every month will make such a difference. Thank you.

Julia’s Story

I am a single mom to 3 boys. My oldest sons are Honor Roll Students and All-Star athletes! My youngest son has special needs. He’s developmentally delayed, has autism, and is nonverbal.

I found a career working for HCPS with special needs children – the same school where my son attends! I never knew that working with children was my destiny but being a stay-at-home mom gave me a lot of experience.

Taking care of myself and my children is not easy, and my disabled son requires more than the neuro-typical child. I’ve applied for all the assistance Maryland has to offer, but I am still living paycheck to paycheck. The boys and I are outgrowing our rental which is a condo. It is too much to afford. Renting is not ideal, and I really need the safety and security of a stable home.

To top all the stress off that I bare, in November, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m getting ready to undergo a very intense surgery to save my life. My children need me to stay strong and stay healthy. I know that Habitat for Humanity would be a Dream Come True for Us! Habitat would relieve the serious weight that I carry on my shoulders every day, playing the role of Mother and Father, 24-hour caregiver and the only financial provider.

Habitat for Humanity could forever Change Our Lives! The stress and strains that I’m dealing with are not where I am staying, but where I am passing! I am currently working on my Real Estate License online to gain another source of income to provide for my family. I know there is a brighter future for us and I won’t stop pushing myself to the fullest to gain everything my boys’ and I deserve and desire!

Habitat is Our Dream Come True!

Yaraly’s Story

I am originally from Puerto Rico but have been living in Aberdeen, MD for many years. I have a daughter who is currently a senior at in high school. When she goes to college, she wants to study psychology for kids.

Me and my daughter attend church every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday and our dream was always to own our own house.

I decided to choose Habitat because I want my own place to live and it’s an amazing opportunity to have my own house and a better living environment for me and my daughter.

Amanda’s Story

I am a full-time employee and a mother of 3-beautiful little boys.

I have always loved the idea of Habitat for Humanity I just never got around to actually applying until a lovely lady at work told me I should apply.

I am currently in a very small apartment. There is mold in my cabinets from an old leak that happened. They only fixed half the problem. I would just really love to get out of this small area and have something bigger for my boys. I want them to be able to go outside and play. It would be a huge blessing to get a home. I would really love my boys to not have to share a very small room.