Family Services works directly with prospective and current Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County homeowners. We want to work with you!

Family Services functions in two main capacities: family selection and family partnership.

Family selection concentrates on exactly what the name suggests:  finding and selecting well-qualified, responsible families (who have a legitimate housing need) to pair with HFHMC's next available properties. Our selection process involves multiple steps and varying levels of screening before even formally "applying" with us:

• Homeownership Orientation (This is where anyone interested in our program starts!)
• Prescreening Survey
• Credit Counseling and Money-Management Education (with Clarifi or MMI)
• Thorough Financial Screening and Personal Interview (with HFHMC)
• Home Visit (by HFHMC team)
• Formal Mortgage Application (to HFHMC's board of directors via family selection)

Both paid and volunteer staff assist prospective partner families throughout each of the above steps in the family selection process, which can take weeks, if not months, to complete. Please see Qualifying for a Home for details.

Family partnership focuses on helping approved families navigate the remaining steps of our homeownership process and equipping them to be successful as homeowners. Once HFHMC's board of directors approves a formal application, the applying household becomes a "partner family" and is assigned a Habitat partner, usually a volunteer staff member, who guides them through this extremely important, second phase of our program, including:

• Sweat Equity - Phase 1 (first 25 hours)
• Property Offer
• Sweat Equity - Phase 2 (25-200 hours)
• Cornerstone Educational Workshops
• Pre-purchase Prep
• Re-qualification and Final Financial Verification
• House Dedication (public event)
• Settlement/Closing (buying the home)

HFHMC's staff partners come alongside their families and guide them through each of the family-partnership steps. Staying on top of sweat-equity hours can be daunting, and making settlement on your home can be exciting, yet scary; it is our goal to partner with you through each milestone and help you succeed!

Habitat Homeownership & Family Partnership 

Once a partner family purchases its home from us, that family becomes a Habitat homeowner, but HFHMC's family partnership doesn't have to end at the settlement table! Should you desire, our family partners are willing to be there to support you as you adjust to your new role as a property owner and its inherent learning curve and responsibilities – in essence, as you transition from a landlord/tenant mentality to independent homeowner mentality – for at least one year post-settlement. Additionally, occasional educational workshops, homeowner social events, and even a periodic newsletter with tips, helps and homeowner highlights will be at your disposal when available!

If you have any questions about Family Services (family selection or family partnership), please contact Jean Ford, our director of Family Services, at 610-278-7710, ext. 109, or at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .