Own a Home

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity provides a hand up, not a hand out, to hard-working families who are willing to partner with Habitat as homeowners.

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity builds homes in partnership with families with modest incomes and sells the houses at no interest. Applicants are evaluated based on three main criteria:
  • Need: Families must be low income living in inadequate housing and/or cost burdened housing, where their rental costs are greater than 30% of their income.
  • Ability to pay: The family must demonstrate they can afford the reduced cost of a Habitat home through the no interest payments provided by the Habitat mortgage.
  • Willingness to partner: Families must demonstrate a willingness to become a full partner in the project. They will commit to completing 300 hours of 'sweat equity' and must successfully complete 13 hours of financial counseling classes.
The first step to a Habitat home is submitting an application complete with all sources of income verification. Apply for a Habitat home today.

Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity does accept applicants who are currently working with the Waterloo Housing Authority and Section 8. If you are currently a client of the Waterloo Housing Authority, their Home Voucher Program could help you pay a portion of a Habitat mortgage.

Questions?
Please contact our Director of Family Services at volunteer@heartlandhfh.org or 319-235-9946

For a family previously spending more than 30% of their income on housing, an affordable mortgage is a crucial change that allows them to spend money on other important things such as healthcare, education, electricity, food and other basic human needs.

If you have a more immediate need for housing, please consider these other organizations:
  • Salvation Army Men’s Shelter 319-232-6336
  • Salvation Army Women & Children’s Shelter 319-232-0397
  • Cedar Valley Friends of the Family
  • Community Housing Initiatives