Who are Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity Partner Families?
Since 1986, over 120 Partner Families have built and purchased homes with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity. Each of these families had low incomes that prevented them from qualifying for a conventional mortgage and limited their ability to ever achieve the dream of home ownership.

The selection of Partner Families that will build and purchase homes with Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity will be done using the following three criteria in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, national origin, marital status, familial status or because all or part of the income is derived from any public assistance program that will produce income for the long term:

1. Housing Need
2. Ability to Pay
3. Willingness to Partner

• investing 500 hours of sweat equity labor into the building of their home
• attending at least 12 hours of home ownership classes
• an 8-week volunteer construction training program

The links below are provided to help answer many of the questions we receive about applying for a Cincinnati Habitat home.

• What kind of homes does Cincinnati Habitat build and where would my home be located?


• What are the qualifications to become a Cincinnati Habitat Partner Family?


• What are the income guidelines to qualify for a Cincinnati Habitat home?


• What if I have bad credit?


• I meet all the qualifications. How do I apply for a home?


• What documentation must be included with my application?


• I was not selected for a Cincinnati Habitat home. Are there any other alternatives for housing?

Not all families that apply for housing will be accepted the first time around. There will be those that do not meet the qualifications to become a partner family and for others it will be a matter of the number of homes we can build in one year. If you are turned down in the year you apply, we encourage you to try again at the next application round. Also, we would encourage you to check into alternative home ownership opportunities in Cincinnati.

The selection of families who will purchase homes from Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity will be done by the Family Selection & Nurture Committee using these criteria (housing need, ability to pay and willingness to partner) in a way that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, handicap, religion, national origin, marital status, familial status or because all or part of the income is derived from any public assistance program that will produce income for the long term.

Successful Children
Children of homeowners are 25% more likely to graduate from high school and 116% more likely to graduate from college

Stronger Families
Homeowners are 16% more likely to belong to parent-teacher organizations and 10% more likely to attend church

Stronger Communities
Homeowners are 28% more likely to repair or improve their homes.

Community Wealth
1% increase in home-ownership rates increases the value of surrounding homes by $800

Homeownership changes lives, strengthens families, and builds stronger communities.