homeownership requirements – Habitat for Humanity GTA

What do you need to know to about Habitat homeownership?

Minimum requirements
Ability to pay a mortgage
Need for affordable housing
Willingness to partner
How to start the process

Habitat homeownership requirements

Minimum requirements

The following are Habitat for Humanity GTA’s requirements to qualify for a Habitat home.

Potential applicants must be families with at least one child 16 years or under at the time of move-in.
Applicant and co-applicant moving into Habitat homes must be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.
At least one of the applicant or co-applicant must be employed full-time or full-time-equivalent.
Applicant and/or co-applicant must have at least 2-3 years of employment history in Canada.
Applicant / Co-applicant must be first-time homebuyers currently living in rental housing.
No bankruptcies (must have been discharged three or more years ago); consumer proposals will be considered on case-by-case basis.
Preference will be given to families who already work or live in the regions where we are building (e.g. if you are applying for a Brampton home, it would be preferred – but not mandatory – that you live or work in Brampton or the Region of Peel).

Ability to pay a mortgage

Families must demonstrate their ability to pay an affordable mortgage.

Employment income must be sufficient to cover the costs of homeownership specific for each project.
Applicants and co-applicants will be asked to submit a current credit report to show good standing credit history as well as other documents.
Employment Insurance and Ontario Works are not acceptable sources of income.
Approved homeowners purchase their home through two mortgages – the first mortgage is through a traditional lender with market interest rates, and the second mortgage which covers the majority of the home value is through Habitat for Humanity GTA with no interest.

Need for affordable housing

Habitat homeowners are also selected based on their need for better housing.
Families will be considered for a Habitat home if their present housing situation is inadequate, and unable to afford decent housing through other conventional means. Current living conditions are overcrowded, unsafe or unhealthy (e.g. inadequate structure, unsafe wiring, heating, air quality, water, poor sanitation, etc.)
Current housing costs are too high (e.g. basic shelter costs are more than 30% of total family income.)

Willingness to partner

Each family approved for Habitat homeownership becomes a partner in our work. Habitat families are our greatest ambassadors, and as such are asked to help with a variety of initiatives that advance our mission.

Each selected family will be asked to fulfill the following partnership requirements:

Be an ambassador for Habitat for Humanity GTA and represent the mission – this involves (1) understanding and agreeing with our model, (2) speaking about your experience with Habitat for Humanity GTA at events, in media interviews or in videos to help promote our organization’s work to the public
Contribute 500 volunteer hours toward the construction of homes or a variety of other Habitat projects and initiatives
Commit to a homeownership and mortgage agreement with Habitat for Humanity GTA
Attend homeowner education trainings and workshops
Adult members of the household must submit a criminal reference check prior to acceptance

How to start the process

Step 1: Fill out eligibility Questionnaire

Eligibility Questionnaire

Step 2: Attend information sessions

Please note:

You will only be contacted via email if you meet the eligibility criteria for a specific project, and when we have units available to accommodate your family.
You must ensure that you have filled out the eligibility questionnaire correctly and completely.

Step 3: Receive application forms

At the Information Sessions, families will be provided with formal application forms. Application forms will only ever be given out at information sessions.

Step 4: Submit filled out application forms

Application forms can be submitted to any Habitat for Humanity GTA office, via email or mail.
Only 100% completed application forms will be reviewed.
Application forms submitted must be the originals received at information sessions – no photocopies will be reviewed.

Step 5: Await response

You will receive an acknowledgement email within 2 weeks of submitting your application form.
Depending on the number of applicants and the complexity of your application, you may be required to wait up to 3 months for a formal review of your application to be completed.
You will receive a response as to whether or not you’ve been accepted to be Habitat homeowners via email.

eligibility questionnaire