Partner for a Home
A decent, safe, affordable home changes everything
Too many families in Jackson and Washington Counties are forced to choose between keeping a roof over their heads and paying for food, health care, or their children's future. That's not a personal failing — it's a barrier we can remove, together.
Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity works alongside families to make affordable homeownership real. We build and repair homes together, keep mortgage payments affordable, and walk future homeowners through the financial side of owning a home — because a stable home is the foundation for building the life you choose on your own terms.
When families have a safe, decent, affordable place to call home, everything else becomes possible. Children do better in school. Health improves. Futures open up. That's why we build.
Eligibility
Chipola Area Habitat builds affordable, energy-efficient 2, 3, and 4-bedroom houses that are sold to qualifying buyers who repay an affordable mortgage (serviced by Habitat). Applicants must qualify based on Residency Status, Need, Ability to Pay, and Willingness to Partner (see below for details).
Applications cannot be processed without income documentation.
Following are the basic Homeowner Selection Criteria for Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity. More details are covered in the Information Sessions.
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Must have lived and/or worked in Jackson or Washington County for a minimum of 12 months prior to application.
Applicants must be legal U.S. residents.
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You will be considered for a Habitat home if your present housing is not adequate and if you are unable to obtain adequate housing through other conventional means. Lack of adequate housing may include problems with the present structure such as water, electrical or sewage service systems, heating system, or the failure to meet city property maintenance standards. Also taken into consideration are the number, the ages, and the sex of children compared to the number of bedrooms in your home.
The percentage of your monthly income that you currently spend on housing is considered when determining need. You will be required to openly and fully discuss your financial situation during this process.
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Since you will be buying your home from Habitat, you must demonstrate your ability to pay the monthly mortgage payment. This payment will include not only the mortgage payment, but the payment for property taxes and insurance. We will help you to determine if this payment will jeopardize your ability to meet all your other family financial obligations and expenses. We can also help you if you need to develop a budget to determine your eligibility.
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When selected, you become a partner family with Habitat. As a partner family, you must complete a minimum of 500 hours of volunteer work or sweat equity. Sweat equity includes helping with the construction of your home and the homes of others, doing things such as clearing the lot and painting. Sweat equity may also be earned volunteering at the ReStore. The 500 hours of sweat equity must be completed before moving into your home.
Application Process
Complete and submit your initial application. If invited, attend orientation. After orientation, complete your application packet and include all required documentation. At this point in the process, you will be subjected to a background and sexual predator check.
Incomplete applications cannot be accepted.
Application Process Steps:
Initial Application
Homeownership Orientation Meeting
Housing Program Application
Application Processing and Background Checks
Home Visit and Interview
File Review by Committee and Board of Directors
Program Approval or Adverse Action
Application Availability
Initial Applications Closed Until Open Enrollment
Homeowner applications will be accepted again in the fall of 2026. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Cynthia Williams, Programs Director at 850-482-2187, extension 102, or email at cynthia@chipolahabitat.org.