Meet Whitney’s family
Whitney lived in a rental apartment along with her three kids. As the kids got older, space and privacy concerns meant a much-needed move was on the horizon. The family was missing out on the strength, stability and self-reliance homeownership offers. And with her oldest daughter growing into late teenhood, Whitney desired to provide her a room of her own.
Imagine living in a space where no one has the room they need to live, play and grow. A space where you have to let go of cherished heirlooms because there’s nowhere to keep them.
“It wasn’t until around 2018 that I decided this time I’d like to buy a home. That will be my next move,” Whitney said. “So I got serious about saving and investing as much as I could afford to. I went the ‘normal’ route of obtaining a realtor and a mortgage agent, and started looking for a suitable home that I could afford. The options were very limited so after a few years of trying, in late 2020, I googled ‘affordable home ownership Toronto’ and I then applied to every item listed on the City of Toronto website.”
Soon after applying and partnering with Habitat GTA, she looked forward to a home to call her own. A home where her kids would have their own bedrooms, opening up space to play and learn.
When asked about what the family looked forward to the most about moving into their new home, Whitney said, “A fresh start. To be able to really allow my eldest to have her own space and be able to better focus on schoolwork. As for my youngest two, they get along well and [will share] a space for a little while. As for me, I [have] a bedroom to myself again.”
With traditional mortgages being inaccessible for so many families due to the current housing crisis, the affordable homeownership program that partner families enter into with Habitat GTA allows families to realize their dreams of owning a home.
“Housing costs, amongst other things, were far too expensive. Even with receiving a livable wage,” Whitney said. “Everything that needs to be purchased is multiplied by three or if I include myself, multiplied by four. And on one income those costs add up very quickly.”
Whitney remembers learning about Habitat for Humanity on a television segment years ago, a moment that stuck with her and eventually led to her new home. She now enjoys the warmth of home while building equity by making mortgage payments geared to household income.
“This time we have a huge balcony, which we did not have at our previous home, maximizing safe playtime,” Whitney said. “I grew up near the Forest Manor area so I’m familiar with [it] and happy to raise my children here. I look forward to making the space my own and making the children’s spaces their own. Making it feel like our home.”
With the family entering homeownership, everyone will have the space they need and the strength and stability a home of your own offers.
You can help more families like Whitney’s.