Our next intake process will begin in September 2012.  If you would like to be notified of when those Informational Sessions will occur, please call the Habitat Office at 272-0800 and ask to have your name, mailing address, phone number and email address placed on our Interest List.  You will be contacted by mail approximately one month prior to the start of the Informational Sessions.

Prior to the 2012 Informational Sessions, you can get ready for our intake process by following the list at the bottom of this page.

Thank you for your interest and we hope to see you in September 2012!
    

• What are the income guidelines?   We use HUD's Median Income Guidelines for the Anchorage area.  A family's income must fall between 30% and 60% of the median income for the family's size.  See the table at the bottom of the page.
• Are there credit restrictions?   Yes.  All liens and judgments must be satisfied prior to acceptance into the program.  If a family has had a bankruptcy,  it must have been discharged for two (2) years prior to application to our program.  In addition, the family's credit must be repairable and the family must be willing to address their credit issues as they work toward homeownership.
  
• I currently own a home/property.  Can I still apply?    No.  As a "first time homebuyer" program, all applicants may have owned a home, but not within the last three years.  (some Alaska Native land is exempt)
  
• What if I currently own a mobile home?   Owning a mobile home (on rented space) is OK.  You must sell or transfer title prior to purchasing a HFHA home.  Families will need to be willing to work with us on a one-to-one basis to address this issue.
  
• How do you define "need"?   Present housing is inadequate because of one or more of the following:
  * unsafe
  * unsanitary
  * overcrowded
  * temporary
  * lacks accessibility
  * not affordable
  
• I just changed jobs.  Is that a problem?   Not usually.  We look at stable income over time.  As long as you do not have gaps in your income history, changing jobs would not be a problem.
  
• I am disabled and cannot do "sweat equity".  Can I still qualify for your program?   We welcome the challenge of finding jobs every adult can do.  If you cannot climb ladders or paint, maybe you can help in the office or ReStore or by making phone calls from home.
  What You Can Do NOW to be Ready to Apply
  during our September 2012 Intake?  
  
  • GET ORGANIZED! Create a filing system and use it!
    
  • OBTAIN AND SAVE RECEIPTS FOR CASH PAYMENTS
    
  • SAVE EVERYTHING
    
    • Rent Receipts
      
    • All Paid Bills
      
    • Pay Stubs
      
    • Bank Statements...the ones you get in the mail each month
      
    • Benefit Statements
      
    • If you are self-employed, save records to document ALL income/expenses
  • BE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR TAX RETURNS (with W-2s and 1099s) for 2009, 2010 and 2011
    
  • ADDRESS ROUTINE MONEY MANAGEMENT ISSUES
    
    • Pay bills on time
      
    • Stop using credit cards unless you pay the entire bill each month
  • MAKE SMART DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR TAX REFUNDS AND PFDS
    
  • START REPAIRING YOUR CREDIT NOW
    
  • RESOLVE ANY OTHER ISSUES that might make it difficult to prove your total income or that might affect your credit or your ability to pay your mortgage.
    
    • Example One:  If you are separated but not divorced, these issues are not clear.
      
    • Example Two:  Self-employed individuals must be able to document their own income.
  HELPFUL RESOURCES

  Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Alaska
  907-279-6501
  For help with money management and credit issues

  Internal Revenue Service
  949 E 36th Avenue
  907-271-6391
  To request copies of Tax Returns/W-2s

  Alaska Housing Finance Corporation
  www.ahfc.state.ak.us
  Subsidized Housing, Home Choice Program
  and Family Self-Sufficiency Program

  Weatherization Assistance Program
  907-343-4881
  Energy efficiency assessment/assistance

      

  FY 2012 Median Income Guidelines for Anchorage

  Family Size	30% of Median Income for Anchorage	60% of Median Income for Anchorage
  One	$17,900	$35,800
  Two	$20,450	$40,900
  Three	$23,000	$46,000
  Four	$25,550	$51,100
  Five	$27,600	$55,200
  Six	$29,650	$59,300
  Seven	$31,700	$63,400
  Eight	$33,750	$67,500
  Nine	$35,800	$71,600
  Ten	$37,850	$75,700