Families Urged to Apply for New Home

Low-income families are encouraged to apply for a new home that will be built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers next year.

Potential applicants should attend an orientation Sept. 9 or Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 1000 Janss Road. Families will learn about Habitat’s partnership program, where they must put in their own “sweat equity” by helping to build the home, said Habitat spokesman Edward Smith. “People don’t get free houses,” he said.

In fact, families must promise to put in at least $500 worth of work building their own home or another home. Houses are sold at no profit to families, and no-interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period. The money Habitat collects from the sale of one house goes to build another.

Applicants for the Thousand Oaks home, which will be constructed in the area of Hillcrest Drive and Flittner Circle, must meet income requirements, usually half the median for the area. For Thousand Oaks, a family of four would have to make less than $29,550 a year to qualify, Smith said.

Those who can’t attend the orientation are still encouraged to apply. Applications are due Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. or Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 Hillcrest Drive.

Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County is headquartered at 167 Lambert St. in Oxnard. For more information, call 485-6065.