“This is the first time in a really long time where our pipeline is essentially empty of qualified applicants,” according to Angel Leverett, Austin Habitat for Humanity director of marketing and communications.
Most of the nonprofit’s projects fall around the 60%-80% median family income range, Leverett said.
For 2023, that range is $49,080-$65,450 for a single person and $70,080-$93,450 for a family of four. A full list of current MFI ranges can be found here.
The Austin-area MFI jumped drastically from 2022-23. The median income for a family of four increased by over 10%, or $12,000.
“The biggest problem that we are facing right now is that we have the price of homes just skyrockets, but in terms of incomes in the area are not increasing as drastically. ... It can feel like [prospective homebuyers] will never catch up,” Leverett said.
This means some individuals, such as nurses, first responders and teachers, may qualify for a home with Austin Habitat for Humanity and not realize it, Leverett said.
“People have the misperception that we give homes away and that we serve extremely low-income individuals, but when in reality we are serving that MFI of 60-80%,” Leverett said.
People who qualify for a home through the organization still have to qualify for a mortgage, though the home will be more affordable than those on the normal market, and the nonprofit works with credit lenders to secure low interest rates.
Leverett said that people who fall outside of the 60%-80% range can still apply, as there are sometimes resources available for those above or below the range. For example, a person making 85% of the MFI this year could move to the 80% range if the MFI increases in 2024. Austin Habitat for Humanity also partners with HomeBase, an organization dedicated to keeping housing affordable, which sometimes has options for individuals in the 85%-95% range. A person making less than 60% can work with the nonprofit’s housing and financial counselors until they qualify.
Leverett said there are also new projects in the pipeline that could serve a wider range of individuals.
The process for a new build can take two to five years, but Leverett said it can be about a year for qualified applicants. Some of the homes available could close as early as next spring, she said.
Some of the projects the organization is looking to fill include:
- Roughly 15 spots for Austin ISD employees through a partnership with Taylor Morrison
- 126 homes in Persimmon Point at Meadow Lake
- Just under a dozen homes in the Montopolis area
