Elderly/Disabled Program
Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County in partnership with S.J.C. Housing and Community Service, St. Johns Housing Partnership, and the S.J.C. Council on Aging has developed a program to provide safe, decent, affordable housing for the elderly and/or disabled living in substandard housing in St. Johns County. Developed in 2002 after a housing survey identified twenty-six, owner-occupied homes that were dilapidated beyond repair, it is the first Habitat program worldwide specifically designed to serve this population in this manner. Our goal is to eliminate all substandard housing in St. Johns County by 2025.
Who Qualifies?
To qualify, the candidate must:
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have been living in an owner-occupied substandard home for at least six months
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have a stable and/or fixed income
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have the ability to make monthly mortgage payments which include an interest-free mortgage, insurance and taxes
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have a credit rating that demonstrates a commitment to repay debt on a timely basis
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agree to a background check that will be conducted with the SJC Sheriffs Dept. and include searching public records.
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must be willing to partner with Habitat, including a requirement to provide as many hours of sweat equity as able up to 400 hours and attend various workshops to prepare for homeownership.
In the future, the Elderly/Disabled Housing Program may be expanded to provide "life estate" opportunities for elderly and/or disabled candidates who do not own their own homes but show a need and meet all the other criteria listed above.
What is provided?
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Demolition of the existing structure and site preparation
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Construction of a new, two-bedroom, one-bath Habitat house
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Affordable mortgage
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Support services from the Council on Aging
What does it cost?
The funding source for the down payment on the Habitat home is twofold:
- The applicant will sign over their property to Habitat for Humanity of St. Augustine/St Johns County by Quit Claim Deed. The appraised value of the land at the time of closing on the completed home will be deducted from the Second Note.
- The applicant will apply for a State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) deferred loan through St. Johns County Housing & Community Services.
Habitat will work with the elderly/disabled applicant to determine an affordable monthly payment that covers the interest-free mortgage, the equity and the insurance.
If you are interested in the Elderly/Disabled Program, please contact our St. Augustine office at 826-3252 for an application.
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