When you join our Home Journey Counseling Program, we will be with you every step of the way. We support you in becoming mortgage-ready through educational-based opportunities addressing credit barriers, budgeting, and financial management. We offer one-on-one meetings outlining actionable steps designed to guide you through the mortgage-readiness process and post-closing support. Working in partnership with our counselors and the Home Journey Program, your dream of homeownership can become a reality.
If you have immediate needs or want to begin preparing for homeownership, click here for additional resources.
Eligibility InformationAt Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, we periodically update our eligibility requirements to reflect current housing market conditions. Please be aware that these requirements are subject to change at any time. Note: These requirements apply specifically to our Home Journey Counseling Program. This is not an application for a loan, nor does it guarantee a loan or a Habitat house. Here are the criteria to be eligible for the Home Journey Program:
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Habitat for Humanity of Omaha works closely with residents and industry professionals to design thriving neighborhoods in five counties:
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Blue is right where she wants to be. She is in her new, white, black-trimmed five-bedroom home with her husband and two children. For her, it’s more than a new address. The path to owning your home may be simpler than you realize.
Your journey is personal, but all of the families we work with start with the Home Journey Program to ensure they are financially ready and prepared for the next step.
She said her hard work reflects her favorite Ralph Waldo Emerson passage: “A house is made with walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”
Now, Chyla has the legacy she wants for her children. “They know what it is to be a homeowner, something that will soon be theirs. A safe haven built with love and dreams.”
Beyond the eligibility requirements listed above, Habitat home owners have a demonstrated need for housing, the ability to pay a mortgage and a willingness to partner with us. This includes completing a set number of “sweat equity” hours by volunteering with Habitat or working on your own home build. Habitat requires a stable job history, with the specific income guidelines listed above.
We currently build homes in Douglas County, Sarpy County and Washington County – from North Omaha to Bellevue to Elkhorn to Blair.
We build a variety of homes, including single-family homes and rowhouses. All of our homes are built with quality materials and designed to be energy efficient and sustainable. After completing counseling, we will work closely with the applicant to find the right home for their qualifications and budget.
*Note: Our home inventory is subject to change regularly.
Our income guidelines are based on the median income for the Omaha area, adjusted for your family size. Generally, if your household income is between 30% and 80% of the average median income (AMI), you may qualify. We review all applicants’ financial circumstances individually, so don’t hesitate to reach out for a more specific assessment.
“Sweat equity” refers to the time and effort our future homeowners invest into their Home Journey while partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Omaha. This could involve unskilled or skilled construction work, attending homeowner education classes, or volunteering at our ReStore. It’s a key part of our program because it fosters a sense of ownership and community among our homeowners.
Our Home Journey Program prepares families to become mortgage-ready with financial counseling, budgeting, homebuyer education, and other tools. Habitat Omaha offers its own affordable mortgages with an interest rate that is significantly lower than the open market rate, making homeownership more accessible for more people.
Our Home Journey Program may include down payment assistance, and the mortgage payments contributed by homeowners are reinvested into the community to help build future Habitat homes. We support our homeowners from start to finish.
The entire process can take anywhere from 6 to 24 months. This timeline includes application review, financial counseling, homebuyer education, and sweat equity completion. We understand it can be a lengthy process, but our goal is to ensure homeowners are set up for success now, and well into the future.
Prior to move-in, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha provides support through homebuyer education, financial counseling, and community engagement opportunities. After you are handed the keys to your new home, Habitat Omaha will provide community resources and referrals to other local organizations based on your family’s needs.
Habitat Omaha also offers other programs that benefit homeowners!
Your Habitat home may be eligible for qualifying home repairs in the future as a part of our Home Repair Program.
Help your family build generational wealth through homeownership by establishing a Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) at one of our scheduled clinics.
Habitat hosts ‘Rock the Block’ events to do yard clean-up and other neighborhood improvement projects that bring together volunteers and homeowners throughout the year.
If you meet the program requirements outlined above, please fill out the pre-screening eligibility assessment. Our team will evaluate your assessment within 60 days to determine if you are eligible to apply for our Home Journey Program. You will hear from us via email or phone regarding next steps.
Absolutely! We welcome volunteers and donors who want to help us build homes and communities. Whether you want to swing a hammer, help in our ReStore, or make a financial contribution, there are many ways to get involved.
Habitat for Humanity of Omaha offers the Home Journey Program for individuals pursuing homeownership. Habitat Omaha does not offer rental properties and does not provide rapid re-housing. If you need immediate housing assistance, please visit our Resources page.
For more information or to address specific questions, please contact our office directly at homeownership@habitatomaha.org.
We’re here to help you on your journey to homeownership. Get started today. You got this!
