Low-income families may qualify for home ownership with Tioga County Habitat for Humanity for a modest three-bedroom house in Nichols, New York. Applications are being accepted from:

families who are living in substandard or inadequate housing

families who meet a specific financial criteria

families who are willing and able to accept responsibility as a Habitat partner

families who have lived, worked, or worshiped in Tioga County for no less than two years

Habitat homeowners purchase their houses through no-profit, no-interest mortgages while contributing hundreds of hours of "sweat equity" labor working on their house and houses of others. Mortgage payments are placed in a revolving "Fund for Humanity" to finance the construction of more houses.

Applications are available at the churches in Nichols, Lounsberry, Barton, Smithboro, and Tioga Center, at the First Presbyterian Union Church office at 111 Temple Street in Owego between 9:00 am to Noon and at the Tioga County Rural Ministry at 60 North Avenue in Owego.

Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry that works in partnership with people in need of decent shelter to build simple, decent houses. For information about the Tioga County Chapter and volunteer opportunities, please write to 228 Main Street, Owego, NY 13827, or call 625-2232.