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 Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys, Inc. does not build houses FOR families; we facilitate a partnership with families who demonstrate need, the ability to pay the mortgage, and a willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. This partnership also engages community supporters who join the families in the home building process and provide both financial and in-kind support for building supplies and materials. Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor, or “sweat equity,” into building their Habitat house and they pay back a no-profit, no-interest mortgage.
Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys, Inc. is committed to the development of decent, affordable homes. We also are committed to work with partner families to insure that the experience of long term home ownership is positive and successful. Families are trained and supported in a variety of skills, including: basic construction skills to assist in the building of their house; home maintenance skills; various home improvement skills; neighborhood involvement and cooperation skills; budgeting and consumer awareness skills; and others as necessary.
We have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with many families in the Lower Keys over the years. Our Partner Families are amazing people dedicated to working hard, helping themselves and others achieve the dream of purchasing and owning their own home. Each home has a story; each home has touched the lives of many people. We are excited about the future of Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys, and look forward to all of the new stories waiting to be written.
With the recent completion of Bayside Landing, more than 50 working families have a home of their own in the lower Keys!
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Find out how to be a Qualified Buyer!
Home Ownership Brochure
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Mail or Fax Pre-Application to Key West office
(FAX 815-550-8863)
Pre-Application Brochure
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For information on current home availability,
please call our Key West office at 305-294-9006
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Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys utilizes a Family Selection Team to facilitate the selection process for a Partner Family. The team believes and insists on nondiscriminatory family selection criteria for all potential homeowners. Race, color, ethnic origin, religion, sex and family composition are not factors considered in the selection process. Partner families are selected according to the following criteria:
1. A demonstrated need for adequate and affordable housing:
Partner families must demonstrate that their present housing arrangement does not qualify as adequate shelter. Examples of INadequate/UNaffordable shelter are listed below:
- Structural problems with wiring, plumbing, etc.
- Overcrowding – more than two people per bedroom.
- Living in temporary housing with relatives, transitional housing, in an automobile, etc.
- Cost-Burdened – family is paying more than 30% of their income on housing.
- Unsafe and/or unsanitary living conditions inside and/or outside the dwelling.
- Family has tried and is unable to obtain a loan from other sources.
- Family has tried and is unable to obtain decent affordable rental housing.
2. Ability to make monthly house payments:
Partner families are families who cannot obtain conventional financing or decent, affordable housing, but have sufficient income to afford the monthly payments and other costs associated with Habitat home ownership.
Families whose income falls below 80% of the local area median income,
and are not currently in or have been in bankruptcy in the past three years are eligible to apply for a Habitat house.
A partner family’s gross income is based on the TOTAL household income for all family members 18 years of age and over: public assistance, child support, alimony payments and funds obtained from the employment of ALL people living in the home will be included in the gross income. The average monthly mortgage payment for a Habitat for Humanity home in the Lower Florida Keys is $1,100-$1,200.
Use the chart below to determine your family’s financial eligibility. Total household annual income for an entire month must fall within the range that matches your family size.
2011 Income Guidelines
Number of Household Members |
No Less Than |
No More Than |
1 |
$40,225 |
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2 |
$44,065 |
$61,419 |
3 |
$51,459 |
$68,612 |
4 |
$57,120 |
$76160 |
5 |
$61,690 |
$82,252 |
6 |
$65,688 |
$87,584 |
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3. Willingness to partner:
- Families must show a genuine interest in the overall community reinvestment philosophy of Habitat for Humanity.
- Each family selected to purchase a home from Habitat for Humanity of Key West and Lower Florida Keys invests in the Habitat program by working 350 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build homes and attending classes such as home maintenance, repair and budgeting.
- Families must complete and return their application for housing on time, acknowledging acceptance of closing costs and other requirements. All information that is requested must be true and accurate. Withholding or falsifying information will result in the application being rejected. The Family Selection Committee verifies information on home buyer applications, including: income, current rent, tax returns, and credit history. They also perform a criminal background check. A home visit of your current residence by the Family Selection Committee is also required
4. Final step:
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