How to Qualify for Habitat for Humanity Homes
Homeownership has become a challenge for families in Williamson and Maury Counties, with reports of only 238 homes sold in Columbia during July 2026, even as the number of homes on the market grew to 1,912.
Our Habitat for Humanity programs have been helping the community for more than 30 years by providing an affordable path to homeownership.
Your first home might be within reach. Start your journey by following the steps below.
At Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury, the first step is our Get Ready Program, a 6-month education series designed to help individuals and families prepare to apply for homeownership. With it, you will get the keys you need to help you secure and hold onto your home.
Each monthly session focuses on key areas of homeownership readiness, including budgeting, managing debt, understanding credit, saving consistently, and organizing financial documents.
Once you complete this course, those who fit our eligibility requirements will be invited to complete a program application. If you’re not quite ready, don’t get discouraged! Take some time to apply the lessons you learned from the Get Ready Program, then reapply for our program later.
How we determine eligibility:
We have a list of criteria we use to assess whether the Habitat for Humanity program is right for you, starting with the Need for Adequate Housing. Those examples include:
Does not have Proper Plumbing or wiring.
Structural Problems.
Conditions are overcrowded or unsafe.
Needing a home that is accessible for disability.
And paying more than 30% of your income in rent.
Our program also requires a willingness to partner through what we call sweat equity hours. This means taking homeowner education classes, budget coaching, volunteering at the ReStore, and helping to build their own home and others' homes in the Habitat for Humanity program.
A very important factor in qualifying for homeownership is showing you can afford your new mortgage. This means having a consistent, stable income in the U.S. for at least 2 years, with a minimum annual household income of $40,000, which is subject to change with each applicant season. The income can come from employment, Social Security, pension, disability income, workers' compensation, alimony, and reliable child support. Any adult 18 or older can apply.
There is hope in getting your first home through Habitat for Humanity and improving your family's living environment. Get started today and visit our requirements page for a complete list, which covers your first steps and beyond. Start with the Get Ready Program by visiting hfhwm.org/apply or emailing apply@hfhwm.org to take your first step toward homeownership.
Sources:
https://www.houzeo.com/housing-market/tennessee/columbia
