Apply for a Home

Thanks for Your Interest!
Welcome to the Hale Aloha O Hilo Habitat for Humanity, Inc. home application process. This page describes how we choose our partner families. Be sure to also sign up using the online interest form so that we have your information when we are ready to send out applications.

We accept applications about once every 12-18 months, once we have completed the homes that we are working on now. It's important to honor our commitment to our current families before we start working with new partner families. One way that you can help speed the process along so that the application process can be opened sooner is by volunteering for construction, since this helps us build our homes faster. It's also a great way to meet people and learn more about the partner family process. For more information, please see our construction calendar.

How the Process Works
If your present housing is inadequate and you cannot get adequate housing, we'd like to talk with you. Lack of adequate housing may include problems with the present structure; water, electrical or sewage service systems or failure to meet city property maintenance standards. We also consider the number, ages and genders of children compared to the number of bedrooms in your present home.

Income is another important selection criteria. The percentage of your monthly income that you currently spend on housing is part of how we determine need. Gather your data and be prepared to openly and fully discuss your financial situation with Habitat so that we can get the full picture of your situation. Generally, you and your family will be considered if your annual total income is between 30-60% of the median family income for Hawaii County, as established by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).

Fiscal Year 2007-08 HUD (U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development) Guidelines for Hawaii County
Family Size	30% Median	60% Median or Very Low Income (VLI)	80% Median or Low-Income (LI)
1 person	$13,750	$22,950	$36,700
2 people	$15,700	$26,200	$41,900
3 people	$17,700	$29,500	$47,150
4 people	$19,650	$32,750	$52,400
5 people	$21,200	$35,350	$56,600
6 people	$22,800	$38,000	$60,800
7 people	$24,350	$40,600	$65,000
8 people	$25,950	$43,250	$69,150

Note: For each additional person, add $5,072. (This is based on multiplying the Median Family Income (MFI) for Hawaii County of $63,400 by .08.)

It's OK if You Don't Own Your Own Land
Unlike some Habitat affiliates, Hale Aloha O Hilo Habitat for Humanity does not require you to own your own land. We are happy to work with you whatever your situation is, whether you own your own land, are eligible for Hawaiian Homelands, own another leasehold property, or do not own land at all.

If you would like to learn more about homeownership, call us at (808) 935-6677 or complete the online interest form and we will contact you before our next application workshop takes place.