How to Apply
Black Women Build – Baltimore is a home ownership initiative that trains black women in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing by rehabilitating vacant and deteriorated houses. Once completed, the participant will have an opportunity to buy the home.
It is a multistep process to become a candidate, and begins with an online questionnaire application. We will be accepting these twice per year depending on how many houses we are able to work on. Enrollment is very limited, and applicants must complete 2 rounds of digital applications and come for an information session and personal interview to be considered.
Please set aside time to carefully review each of the 3 sections before filling out the initial online Application. Your ability to follow these directions is your first task in applying for the program.
SECTIONS
- Basic Application Requirements
- Important financial details
- Applicant Frequently Asked Questions
1 Basic Applicant Requirements
Baltimore City resident
At least 20 years old
Be drug-free
Have a HS diploma or GED
Meet the basic financial criteria (see the ‘Important financial details’ section and the Applicant FAQ)
Conduct a successful interview with Leadership team
Be able to attend every weekday, Monday-Friday from 9am. – 3pm for 16 weeks + possible weekends if needed (advance notice will be given) caveat: try to be flexible as rebuilding a house takes time
Able to participate in trades-related workshops up to twice a month with our collaborators.
Participate in program-related sessions for financial literacy and debt repair, counseling, and nutritional awareness.
2 Important financial details
OVERVIEW
As a participant you, will be expected to be or become financially literate and fiscally responsible. This is integral to the program, and being able to buy the home. Owning a home is a big deal and we want to make sure that the financial foundation of the woman buying the home AND the physical foundation of the house are both sound. There are basic financial criteria you must meet in order to purchase the home on which you will be working. We do not expect you to have completed this criteria prior to beginning the program, there will be financial counseling available through our lending partner, the non-profit Neighborhood Housing Services.
CREDIT SCORE
One of the things the lender will be looking for is a minimum credit score of 640. You can look up your credit score for free and pull one report every four months – one from each credit reporting bureau – in order to have an idea of what is in your credit history. You do not have to buy a credit score, you can look up your credit at annualcreditreport.com.
DOWN PAYMENT
Another criteria is the lender will look at is your ability to save money and put down a down payment for the house. Their financial coaches will help you create a budget in order to save $2500. How long it will take is dependent on your personal fiscal acuity and debt. We understand that not all participants have traditional lines of credit (loans, credit cards, student loans) and so NHS allows for non-traditional lines (utilities in person’s name that are paid on time, phone bill paid on time, and documented 12 months of on time rental payments (even if living with family members).
Please understand that these things are not exhaustive and there may be other ways to prove income and credit, but these are good examples of what a participant could use. Understanding these factors of your financial situation, what they mean and what will be expected of you as a candidate before you apply can be helpful. Of course, you can always apply but these are some of the financial commitments that will be expected of you.
How to Apply
Black Women Build – Baltimore is a home ownership initiative that trains black women in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing by rehabilitating vacant and deteriorated houses. Once completed, the participant will have an opportunity to buy the home.
It is a multistep process to become a candidate. First step is the online questionnaire application. We will be accepting these twice per year depending on how many houses we are able to work on. Enrollment is very limited, and applicants must complete applicants must complete 2 rounds of digital applications and come for an information session and personal interview to be considered.
Please set aside time to carefully review each of the 3 sections before filling out the initial online Application. Your ability to follow these directions is your first task in applying for the program.
SECTIONS
- Basic Application Requirements
- Important financial details
- Applicant Frequently Asked Questions
1 Basic Applicant Requirements
Baltimore City resident
At least 20 years old
Be drug-free
Have a HS diploma or GED
Meet the basic financial criteria (see the ‘Important financial details’ section and the Applicant FAQ)
Conduct a successful interview with Leadership team
Be able to attend every weekday, Monday-Friday from 9am. – 3pm for 16 weeks + possible weekends if needed (advance notice will be given) caveat: try to be flexible as rebuilding a house takes time
Able to participate in trades-related workshops up to twice a month with our collaborators.
Participate in program-related sessions for financial literacy and debt repair, counseling, and nutritional awareness.
2 Important financial details
OVERVIEW
As a participant you, will be expected to be or become financially literate and fiscally responsible. This is integral to the program, and being able to buy the home. Owning a home is a big deal and we want to make sure that the financial foundation of the woman buying the home AND the physical foundation of the house are both sound. There are basic financial criteria you must meet in order to purchase the home on which you will be working. We do not expect you to have completed this criteria prior to beginning the program, there will be financial counseling available through our lending partner, the non-profit Neighborhood Housing Services.
CREDIT SCORE
One of the things the lender will be looking for is a minimum credit score of 640. You can look up your credit score for free and pull one report every four months – one from each credit reporting bureau – in order to have an idea of what is in your credit history. You do not have to buy a credit score, you can look up your credit at annualcreditreport.com.
DOWN PAYMENT
Another criteria is the lender will look at is your ability to save money and put down a down payment for the house. Their financial coaches will help you create a budget in order to save $2500. How long it will take is dependent on your personal fiscal acuity and debt. We understand that not all participants have traditional lines of credit (loans, credit cards, student loans) and so NHS allows for non-traditional lines (utilities in person’s name that are paid on time, phone bill paid on time, and documented 12 months of on time rental payments (even if living with family members).
Please understand that these things are not exhaustive and there may be other ways to prove income and credit but these are good examples of what a participant could use. If thinking about applying for our program, it would be better look into these things before you begin. Of course, you can always apply but these are some of the financial commitments that will be expected of you.
3 Applicant Frequently Asked Questions
How does this program work?
You apply and are interviewed and accepted into the program. Once accepted, we set you up with our partners at NHS to begin the financial counseling portion of the program. This is important as we want to keep the timeline as short as possible for you to be able to qualify for a loan AND finish the house that you will buy. The house will take about four months to complete once we begin working on it.
Do I get paid to work on the house?
You will receive a small stipend for your work.
Do I need money to buy the house?
Yes, you will need to qualify for a home loan from one of our lending partners in order to buy the home.
How much will I need?
You will need to put down at least $2500 of your own money to buy the house.
What if I don’t have it?
You can work on saving it (NHS will help you create a budget) or it can be gifted.
How long does it take to buy the house?
The house building process will take around four months. If you have started to save and/or began working with our lender, the process could coincide with the house building. But most likely, you will be renting the house until you are able to purchase it.
How much is the house?
We are still looking at that but believe it will be somewhere between $80,000 to $90,000.
How big is the house?
These first houses are two bedroom, one bath homes and are about 1000 square feet.
A lot of people talk about “flipping houses” is that what this is?
No, we believe in building community with whom you work and where you live. Therefore, you must stay in the house at least five years before you can sell it. We think you will love living next to and around those of us who have worked together to rebuild this block, and will want to stay even after the five years is up.
How do I get to be a part of this project?
Fill out our initial questionnaire and if there is space and a good fit, we will be in contact.
3 Applicant FAQ
How does this program work?
You apply and are interviewed and accepted into the program. Once accepted, we set you up with our partners at NHS to begin the financial counseling portion of the program. This is important as we want to keep the timeline as short as possible for you to be able to qualify for a loan AND finish the house that you will buy. The house will take about four months to complete once we begin working on it.
Do I get paid to work on the house?
You will receive a small stipend for your work.
Do I need money to buy the house?
Yes, you will need to qualify for a home loan from one of our lending partners in order to buy the home.
How much will I need?
You will need to put down at least $2500 of your own money to buy the house.
What if I don’t have it?
You can work on saving it (NHS will help you create a budget) or it can be gifted.
How long does it take to buy the house?
The house building process will take around four months. If you have started to save and/or began working with our lender, the process could coincide with the house building. But most likely, you will be renting the house until you are able to purchase it.
How much is the house?
We are still looking at that but believe it will be somewhere between $80,000 to $90,000.
How big is the house?
These first houses are two bedroom, one bath homes and are about 1000 square feet.
A lot of people talk about ‘flipping houses’ is that what this is?
No, we believe in building community with whom you work and where you live. Therefore, you must stay in the house at least five years before you can sell it. We think you will love living next to and around those of us who have worked together to rebuild this block, and will want to stay even after the five years is up.
How do I get to be a part of this project?
Fill out our initial questionnaire and if there is space and a good fit, we will be in contact.
Please make sure you have thoroughly read each section before continuing.
SECTIONS
- Basic Application Requirements
- Important financial details
- Applicant Frequently Asked Questions
The Application is detailed, and at this time you cannot save and return to it, so you must complete it in one sitting. Please gather the following resources before starting the Application.
Your current credit score see Section #2 for instructions
If employed, you will be expected to provide your 2019 income totals and employment specifics
If unemployed, you will be expected to provide detailed accounting of your resources (both current and future), your financial plan for your down payment, and your mortgage payment strategy
2 references with contact information (personal and professional)
Please make sure you have thoroughly read each section before continuing.
SECTIONS
- Basic Application Requirements
- Important financial details
- Applicant Frequently Asked Questions
The Application is detailed, and at this time you cannot save and return to it, so you must complete it in one sitting. Please gather the following resources before starting the Application.
Your current credit score see Section #2 for instructions
If employed, you will be expected to provide your 2019 income totals and employment specifics
If unemployed, you will be expected to provide detailed accounting of your resources (both current and future), your financial plan for your down payment, and your mortgage payment strategy
2 references with contact information (personal and professional)
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide status updates for every individual who applies to the program and will only contact applicants selected for interviews. If you are not selected for an interview, please do not be discouraged. Admission as a participant to Black Women Build – Baltimore is very competitive and committing to a 16-weeks and career skills training program while balancing a lot of other demands on one’s life is a big consideration. Should you not be accepted, please apply again.
Black Women Build-Baltimore is committed to equal employment, participation, and volunteer opportunity without regard to age, ancestry, disability, national or ethnic origin, race, religious belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, political belief, or veteran status.
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