Affordable home ownership
An important step on the housing continuum
All housing operates on the housing continuum. At the far side, there are people who are in crisis, or without a permanent residence. Next are people who are paying their own rent with assistance. Finally, there are independent renters and homeowners.
When Habitat empowers someone to change their position in the housing continuum, that person is provided with independence and a more sustainable living arrangement. By giving partner families the opportunity to leave precarious living situations to become homeowners, they are able to afford other necessities on their own. Homeownership also provides demonstrated benefits such as improved physical and mental health, and increased confidence in children’s future outcomes. Stability through homeownership typically results in children having more opportunities for higher levels of education given their networks are consistent and their self-confidence is increased. This results in a better future for them, their families and supports thriving communities and increased confidence in children’s future outcomes.
Giving a hand up
At Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings,
we bring communities together to help families build strength, stability and independence through affordable homeownership. Locally, Habitat for Humanity is the only agency that operates in the “homeownership” space.
We believe that stable housing provides the foundation for long-term social and economic well-being. It transforms people’s futures, strengthens entire communities and builds resiliency. We all benefit when we all have a decent place to call home.
A decision by the City of Belleville to donate land for affordable housing means we now have an opportunity to make an even greater impact with a multi-unit housing complex. The land at the former City of Belleville Police Station, situated at 93 Dundas Street East will be the future home to many diverse families who need one, two or three-bedroom homes in a condo style development.
Our commitment to Prince Edward-Hastings runs deep and we are tremendously grateful for the support we receive from members of the community. We look forward to your continued support as we embark on this transformational opportunity for our community.
Hazzem Koudsi,
Chief Executive Officer
vision
A region where everyone has a safe
and decent place to live.
mission
Habitat Prince Edward-Hastings brings communities
together to help families build strength, stability, and
self-reliance through affordable homeownership.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME CAMPAIGN CABINET
Kathryn Brown – Councillor Ward 2/City of Belleville
Bob Doyle – Doyle Foods Services Ltd.
Paul Ferguson – Starboard Communications
Andy Geertsma – Geertmsa Homes
Patricia Guernsey – Team Guernsey Real Estate
Dale Hoard – MicroAge Technology Solutions
Sheridan Jennings – Global Payments
David Joyce – City of Belleville Planning Advisory Committee
Peter Knudsen – K. Knudsen Construction Ltd.
Hilary Murphy – Taskforce Engineering Inc.
Mark Phillips – Mystical Distributing
Joe Shunock – Ekort Realty
Making a difference
Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings (Habitat PEH) brings communities in our region together to build safe, decent and affordable homes for local working families in need. We have built 32 homes and served 34 families across the Quinte region since 1995.
As a registered charity, home builder, mortgage lender and social enterprise, we are uniquely positioned along the housing continuum to help break generational cycles of poverty, increase family resilience (emotionally and financially) and strengthen community. Increasing housing supply frees up affordable rental units and improves quality of life and health outcomes for homeowners and their children.
Habitat PEH makes this possible through the help of community partners who volunteer at build sites, suppliers and trades who generously donate goods and services, and donors who contribute financial resources.
We offer a hand-up, not a hand-out. The families who partner with us invest directly in their home’s equity, commit volunteer hours, and understand that home ownership is a long-term commitment. Stable, affordable housing is a cornerstone of financial well-being for families and neighbourhoods, which means more disposable income contributed to local businesses and our region’s economy. By paying less for their mortgage than they were paying in rent, every homeowner contributes $175,000 to the local economy over the life of their mortgage.
The housing continuum
Habitat Canada’s 2023 survey underscores the importance of tackling the housing crisis. Access to safe and decent housing is foundational to better, healthier lives. Canadians believe that homeownership creates more stability in their lives (86%), strengthens their financial future (84%) and leads to a better future for their children (79%).
Canadians believe that action can be taken to deal with Canada’s housing problems. There are solutions to the housing crisis. Collaboration is key and everyone has a role to play in solving the housing crisis – governments, financial institutions and investors, home builders, and citizens. For more information on the survey, click here.
Empowering families through
affordable homeownership
Our new flagship project – the transformation of 93 Dundas Street, Belleville – will be an affordable 66 multi-unit building. This development will triple our housing output, improve the quality of life for working families and have deep ripple effects, economically and socially, across the city.
By creating new affordable multi-unit homes for first time home buyers to purchase, Habitat PEH is helping hard-working Canadian families break the cycle of intergenerational poverty in our area. It allows families the opportunity to build equity with their own homes rather than continue to spend a disproportionate amount of income on overcrowded substandard rental housing.
The mortgage affordability target for these new units will be equivalent or less than market rent. This will be a win-win by creating more space in the affordable housing sector as it will enable some renters to transition to home ownership while increasing availability of existing rental housing and increase disposable income, which helps the local economy.
Bringing the project to life
Our flagship project at 93 Dundas Street will be realized through contributions and partnerships with other sectors (profit and non-profit as well as government) to help offer units that are affordable and allow families to build equity and eventual independence through owning their own homes.
Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings is seeking assistance from the community towards a projected $8.5M fundraising campaign to close the gap to fund this project. We welcome you to join us in our effort to ensure more families in the Quinte Region have safe, affordable places to live.
AARON BATEMAN & JEANNETTE MINAKER
“We knew of Habitat for Humanity, but we never thought we could qualify. We assumed it was for people who were considered lower income or in an extreme circumstance, not for blue collar wage earners like us. But after a loss of income due to the pandemic that saw our savings dwindle away, we needed help. The three of us were living in a small, one-bedroom apartment – it was time to try something new.
We have nothing but gratitude for Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings.
Given the housing crisis in Belleville, we feel very blessed and fortunate to have been chosen for a Habitat home.
Our housing situation has been a huge stressor for us and now we are relieved and excited about our future home; it is providing us with freedom. We truly appreciate the ‘hand up’ that Habitat has provided for us.”
THANK YOU to the City of Belleville for making this possible