Habitat for Humanity Detroit, founded in 1986, partners with families across Detroit and Wayne County, offering newly built and rehabbed homes with affordable mortgages. Returning vacant homes to use is a big part of its work. Here is how to qualify, what is involved, and how to help.
Habitat Detroit partners with families to make homeownership possible through affordable mortgages on newly built and rehabbed homes, with buyers choosing from available inventory. Returning vacant existing homes to use is a major part of the model. The typical timeline from application to closing runs about 6 to 18 months.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income | At or below 80% of Wayne County Area Median Income; examples run from about $58,700 for one person to $83,850 for a household of four. |
| First-time buyer | Must be a first-time buyer or not have owned a home in the last three years. |
| Credit | Lenders typically want to see a credit score of at least 580 to 600. |
| Down payment | Ability to save about $2,000 toward a down payment. |
| Pre-approval | Lender pre-approval for at least $100,000. |
| Sweat equity | 150 hours per partner household. |
The organization describes its service area as Detroit and Wayne County.
The path starts with an online interest form and a lender pre-approval letter. A homeownership coach then contacts you, you submit a full application with documents, and the organization notifies you of your enrollment status within about 30 days.
Intake is rolling rather than tied to a fixed window, so the interest form and pre-approval are the way in.
Habitat Detroit runs a Critical Home Repair program covering health and safety repairs, such as roofing, HVAC, windows, doors, and accessibility work, for low-income homeowners who own and occupy their homes and earn up to 80 percent of area median income.
It also offers homebuyer education classes and personal financial counseling. The organization does not currently operate a ReStore; the former Detroit ReStore locations have closed, and nearby ReStores are run by other Michigan affiliates. It does accept in-kind product and service donations directly.
Volunteers sign up through an online form and can choose construction, administrative, corporate or group, or court-ordered community service roles, with no prior experience needed. Donating money, giving in-kind goods or services, and joining a build are the main ways to help.
Habitat Detroit has served nearly 400 families since 1986 and holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 38-2708025, and it runs initiatives including Women Build and a development project called Pope Leo Village.
Newly built and rehabbed homes sold with affordable mortgages.
Health and safety repairs for low-income owner-occupants.
HomeEd classes and personal financial counseling.
Returning existing Detroit homes to use.
A signature volunteer and fundraising initiative.
Accepts donated products and services directly.
Sources: Habitat for Humanity Detroit (habitatdetroit.org) buy-a-home, critical home repair, and volunteer pages; Charity Navigator and IRS filings (EIN 38-2708025). The affiliate describes affordable mortgages without stating a specific interest rate. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Habitat for Humanity Detroit and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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