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Habitat for Humanity seeking Hoisington home applicants
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HOISINGTON — Habitat for Humanity of the Barton County Area is accepting applications from families looking to partner and own a home in Hoisington. The open application period will run from Sept. 14-28. Interested applicants may request an application by contacting the local organization via email at habitatbartoncounty@hotmail.com, by phone at 620-792-1232, or by messaging the Facebook page @BartonCountyHabitat.

Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Sept. 28. Applications can be submitted via email or mailed to Habitat for Humanity: Barton County, 3600 Broadway Ave., Great Bend, KS 67530.

Habitat for Humanity has been in Barton County since 2001. The non-profit organization gives a hand up, not a handout. All the donations received are used to build or remodel homes for partner families, who then purchase the homes through zero-interest, 25-year mortgages. The houses cost less because they are built with volunteer labor and donated materials. Because the partner families do not pay interest, home ownership is much more affordable than in the private market. In addition, the funds collected in mortgage payments can be reused to help another family in Barton County.

The organization aims to do one build or rehabilitation project each year. Partner families need to meet three basic requirements:

• They have to be willing to partner. Families have to put in 400 sweat equity hours on their home and complete a financial counseling series of classes.

• They have to have the ability to repay. The family must display a steady source of income adequate to make consistent mortgage payments, just like they would in a regular bank loan. Eligible applicants should have an income of 50-80% of the median income for Barton County ($66,100 for a family of four). For a family of four, this income range is $33,050 to $52,900.

• They have to be in need of affordable housing. The family has to have a need of some sort, whether it is because they are in an unsafe living environment or because their current situation is too expensive.