Individuals and families interested in applying for the program must fill out the Expression of Interest on our website (see Click Here button below). This initial information will support determining the applicant’s ability to pay and affordable housing need (see above).

Applicants (and/or Co-Applicants) must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and have been free from bankruptcy (if applicable) for the past 3 years or more.

Applicants that meet the initial qualifications from Step 1: Expression of Interest, will be emailed to complete a more thorough application through our partner VeriFast. Habitat for Humanity requires applicant families to understand the financial commitment they are undertaking by becoming a Habitat homeowner. Through the application on VeriFast, Habitat Prince Edward-Hastings will be able to verify if an Applicant’s income is within range to afford a fair market value home. Even though our mortgages require no down payments and charge a preferred interest rate, they will still require your family to carry payments that will be 25% of your gross family income (line 15000 on your Notice of Assessment). Any applicant 19+, and not in school must declare their income. The Habitat for Humanity homeownership program is a hand up; not a handout.

Habitat Prince Edward-Hastings will also calculate the following: your gross debt service ratio (projected mortgage payment, property tax, insurance = 30-35% of gross income), and your gross debt service ratio (same, plus addition of other debt obligations = no more than 42% gross income). These calculations are to determine if an Applicant’s family can carry the load of the mortgage without overwhelming them financially.

There will also be documents an Applicant’s family is required to upload. The following documents may be required:

• Birth Certificates or Canadian Permanent Residency papers for each member of your family
• Criminal record check from Applicant (and Co-Applicant) Find more information here.
• Financial Information  (Please note the following documents will be required from the Applicant as well as ANYONE 19+, who is not in a full-time education program, and who would be living in the home.):
  • • 2023 & 2024 Notice of Assessments
    • T1 if self-employed
    • Current paystub
    • Statement of disability income (no other social assistance program will be considered as income)
    • Proof of child or spousal support (paid or collected)
    • Discharge papers if bankruptcy has been declared within the past 10 years

• A letter from Applicant (and Co-Applicant)’s current landlord referencing current rent amount, length of tenancy, and if there has been a history of arrears.

• A letter from Applicant (and Co-Applicant)’s current employer referencing: current earnings, length of employment, and status of employment (full- or part-time, permanent, or seasonal contract.

Applicants who have had their financial assessment determined as meeting the necessary criteria will be invited to attend an information session run by Habitat Prince Edward-Hastings. These sessions will act as an introduction to Habitat for Humanity, its policies, and our partner RBC Mortgage Specialist. Attending a scheduled Info Session is a MANDATORY part of the application process. Any invited Applicant Family who does NOT attend an Info Session will be considered denied as a potential Habitat Homeowner. During the session, the Applicant Family will book a time with RBC to complete a credit check. The Info Sessions will also cover topics such as, what the next steps in our application process require, as well as what happens when an Applicant is successful. We will also explain important parts of the Habitat for Humanity program, such as Volunteer Hours and Homeowner Education, and cover our mortgage model.

From the completed credit checks, selected candidates will be asked to set up a time for a Home Visit, for a final review of the application information. Having representatives from Habitat Prince Edward-Hastings visit your current home will support the finalized report (see Step 5) and give an opportunity for the Applicant Family to clarify any lingering questions. The representatives will also discuss with the Applicant what it means to partner with Habitat Prince Edward-Hastings, including their ability to complete the required 500 Volunteer Hours (see Step 8). Receiving Habitat Staff for a Home Visit is MANDATORY to be considered as a potential Habitat Homeowner, and any Applicant Family that declines will be considered denied as a potential Habitat Homeowner.

The Family Selection Working Group will compile data from the Expression of Interest (Step 1), Financial Assessment (Step 2), and the Home Visit (Step 4), into a final total for each Applicant Family. The totals for all Applicant Families will be compared, considering (but not limited to): their current housing being unsafe/unhealthy, being precarious/not a long-term solution, not being suitable for the family make-up, and/or costing more than 30% of a family’s gross income. Then the Family Selection Working Group will present the successful Applicant(s) to the Habitat Prince Edward-Hastings Board of Directors (see Step 6).

The Habitat Prince Edward-Hastings Board of Directors will approve the Family Selection Working Group’s recommended Applicant Family for Homeownership.

The successful applicant(s) will become a future Habitat Homeowner(s). This decision will first be communicated to the Applicant Family, and they will be given the opportunity to accept.

Applicant(s) who are not selected are kept on file for one year, and encouraged to re-apply if/when applications are opened again, with updated financial information.

As HFHPEH’s future Habitat Homeowner(s) we require:

1. 1. Willingness to partner with HFHPEH

1. 1. Homeowner Education

1. 1. 500 Volunteer Hours

2 parent families – 500 hours total

Single Parent Families – 500 hours Total