Getting the Documents You Need to Apply for Habitat Homeownership

If you're eligible for the Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Financial Coaching Program, you will still need to submit your application. In order to do that, you'll need to collect and send the required materials. To make your application process a little easier, we've listed all the necessary materials and some helpful tips on where to find them.

A Social Security Number

We need all adults’ social security numbers to verify identity. If you need a copy of your social security card, you can apply for a new one here or call 1-800-772-1213.

Four most recent months of pay stubs for each job in your household 

To verify how much income the adults in your household earns, you will need to print, copy, or save pay statements for 4 months (16 weeks). Some jobs pay every week, every two week, or once a month. If you, or your adult household members, have more than one job, please provide four most recent months of pay stubs from each job. This includes full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary work.

If you're not sure what a pay stub should look like, here's an example.

Employment verification letter from your employer(s)

To verify when you started at each job, and your regular hours and pay, you will need to ask your employer to write or fill out an employment verification. Ask your Human Resources Department or your boss to provide a letter that includes:

• The date you were hired
• The number of regular hours you work per week
• Your wage per hour.

If you have more than one job, you need a letter from each employer.

This letter will verify that you have been employed at least one year at the company, or two years if you are self-employed. This is one of the required documents for your application. Want to see an example letter? Click here.

Some employers like to fill in a form, so you can print or send this form to them or use an outside source to verify employment, like The Work Number. Your employer can provide you with the company code for future verification. You can write the company code, your start date, and company name on this form.

Benefit income verification letters

If anyone in your household receives income from a government program such as Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or Retirement, Survivors, Disability Insurance (RSDI), we'll need you to provide the most recent benefit verification letters.

If you don't have the verification documents in your files at home, they are available online or by mail. You may need to create an account to get the document online. If you need help opening an account, here's a resource that will walk you through it. All the instructions are in English. To open an online account, you must be at least 18 years old and have a valid email address, a Social Security number, and a U.S. mailing address.

If you need further assistance, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

Verification of other income

When we say "other income," we're talking about alimony, child support, or regular income received from parents or relatives. If you receive any of these, please provide these two items:

• Most recent 6-month history of payments
• A notarized letter (or similar agreement) to verify how much you receive and how often you receive the payments 

Proof of payments may be shown on 6 months of bank statements of deposits or by providing the statements from your online state-run child support account.

Verification of no income

If you, or an adult in your household currently have no income, please fill out and sign the Zero Income Verification.

Tax information

Individuals who are self-employed must provide pages 1 and 2 of their 1040 tax form, Schedule C, and Schedule 1 from the past two years. If you didn't save a copy of your tax forms, you can easily find them online, or you can seek help by calling 1-800-908-9946 and following the voice prompts.

You can also pick up a tax form transcript in person. Call 651-312-8082 for the nearest location.

To see an example of the tax forms you should be submitting, click here to see a 1040 form, click here to see a Schedule C, and click here to see a Schedule 1.

Application household members

On the application you will provide the name, birthdate, gender, and relationship to you for anyone who will be living with you. This includes both children and adults.

Color photo ID of adults

This could be your MN Driver’s License, your MN ID Card, Passport, or your US Permanent Resident Card. If you don’t have a scanner at home, you can take a photo of your ID with your phone, email it to yourself and upload it into your application. You can also "scan" your ID with a mobile app like Adobe Scan and upload it to your application or email it to yourself.

If you don’t have a Minnesota photo ID, contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program Release of Information & Data Privacy 

This form is specific to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity's program. All household members 18 years or older will need to sign this form as part of the application process. 

Application signature page

Any household members 18 years or older must sign this document, too.

Combined Privacy Act Notice

All household members 18 years or older must also sign this document.

Credit Authorization Form

Any applicants (household members whose income and credit are considered to buy a home together) will need to sign this form, or bring/submit a recent credit report.

Unofficial high school or college transcripts

If anyone in your family is 18 years or older, earning an income, and going to school full-time, please provide a copy of their unofficial transcripts. These documents can be obtained online, from the school’s Registrar’s office or Student Services office.

Application fee

Now, the only thing left is to pay your application fee. The application fee is $55 for two applicants or $35 for a single applicant. You can pay with money order, cash, or card. We do not accept checks.

This application fee is non-refundable. When you apply online, you'll be redirected to the payment page as soon as you submit your application.

Hopefully this list has helped you get ready to submit your program application. Most of this information is available online and could be collected digitally or printed off at the library. If you gather one item each day, you’ll be ready to submit your complete application in under two weeks!

If you still have questions on the application process, or would like to submit your application with a Habitat staff member, you can email us at apply@tchabitat.org or call us at 612-540-5660.