Habitat for Humanity partners with approved partner families in Prince Edward and Hastings Counties to provide them with affordable homeownership opportunities.
Our application process typically takes several months and waiting for a home to be funded and constructed can take up to two years or more. Our current programs are not designed to provide housing for emergency situations. If you have an emergency housing crisis, we encourage you to contact the Hastings Housing Resource Centre as a starting point: https://hastingshousing.com/community-connections/
Our Current Project – Applications are now closed for 639 Sidney Street
3 Bedroom, 1 full bathroom, with a kitchen/dining room, family room, an unfinished basement, with a small deck in the back yard. The first floor has a large open concept with lots of room for the whole family.
Application Process
Step 1. Financial Assessment
Step 2: Attend an Info Session
Step 3. Self-Reported Needs Assessment
Step 4. Home Visit
Step 5. Report Building
Step 6. Recommendation to Board of Directors
Step 7. Partner Family Chosen & Announced
Step 8: Partner Family Enters Partnership Agreement
Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings seeks to:
- Ensure that all Applicant Families understand the application and selection process;
- Ensure that Applicant Families understand the full scope of partnership;
- Ensure Applicant Families understand timelines, expectations, roles, and responsibilities;
- Communicate within a reasonable timeframe with Applicant Families regarding the status of their application;
- Ensure the selection process is non-discriminatory and aligned with the protected grounds of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom;
- Maintain an environment of strict confidentiality, and;
- Provide Partner Families a mutual support system, educational opportunities, and a form for discussions pertaining to home ownership and maintenance, all for the purpose of helping families to break the poverty cycle and become independent.
Application Process
Habitat for Humanity requires applicant families to thoroughly understand the financial commitment they are undertaking by becoming a Partner Family. Through an application hosted by our partner VeriFast, Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings will be able to tell 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 for Humanity 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. Habitat for Humanity believes in building self-reliance and stability above all.
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 2 years or more.
Applicants who have had their financial assessment determined as meeting the necessary criteria will be invited to attend an information session run by Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings. These sessions will act as an introduction to Habitat for Humanity and its policies. Attending a scheduled Info Sessions 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. 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. There will also be plenty of time for questions.
Applicants who attend an Information Session by the required deadline will be emailed a link to a digital form to complete. Through this form on our website, you will self-report the specific reasons you think that your family would be the best fit for our program. There will also be documents an Applicant’s family is required to upload.
The following documents are required:
- Birth Certificates or Citizenship papers for each member of your family
- 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.
- 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.
- 2020 & 2021 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
- Criminal records check from Applicant (and Co-Applicant) Find more information here.
- Credit check from Applicant (and Co-Applicant) Find more information here.
The Family Selection Working Group at Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings will determine a score for each Applicant family based on their current housing needs. These factors include, but are not limited to, their current housing being unsafe/unhealthy, costing more than 30% of a family’s gross income, not being suitable for the family make-up, and/or being precarious/not a long-term solution.
Applicant Families who are deemed appropriate financially, and demonstrate a high need for a hand up, will be contacted by the Affiliate Services Coordinator at Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings. The Applicant Family will be asked to set-up a time to receive two representatives of Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings for a Home Visit. Please see Step 4 for more information on what a Home Visit entails.
Selected candidates, who are asked to set-up a time for a Home Visit, are being asked to help us verify your self-reported Needs Assessment (Step Three). Having representatives from Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings visit your current home helps us determine the overall score of each individual Applicant Family, as well as verify the number and age of their family members. The representatives will also discuss with the Applicant what it means to partner with Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings, their ability to complete the 500 Volunteer Hours (see Step 8) required. This Home Visit also serves to make sure each Applicant Family understands the application process and the financial obligations of a Habitat for Humanity mortgage. 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 date from the Financial Assessment (Step 1), the Self-reported Needs Assessment (Step 3), and the Home Visit (Step 4), into a final total for each Applicant Family. The totals for all Applicant Families will be compared, and then the Family Selection Working Group will present the successful Applicant Family to the Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings Board of Directors (see Step 6).
The Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings Board of Directors will approve the Family Selection Working Group’s recommended Applicant Family for Homeownership.
The successful applicant will become a Partner Family. This decision will first be communicated to the Applicant Family, and they will be given the opportunity to accept. Once
Applicants who are not selected, as a Partner Family for a home, are kept on file for one year, and encouraged to reapply if/when applications are opened again, with updated financial information.
As HFHPEH’s new Partner Family we require:
- Willingness to partner with HFHPEH
- Homeowner Education
- 500 Volunteer Hours
2 parent families – 500 hours total
| Adult Applicants | 250 MIN | *Up to 80 MAX can be considered to be transferred from other qualified non-profits | *150 hours MUST be contributed to ReStore |
| Relatives & Friends | 250 MAX | 25 MAX of Child Care for Applicant (Children 12 or under) | *While Applicants complete their hours |
| Children 16 & under | Half Value | +10 for 85% (or above) school attendance | *Separate from required community service hours |
Single Parent Families – 500 hours Total
| Adult Applicant | 150 MIN | *Up to 80 MAX can be considered to be transferred from other qualified non-profits | *150 hours MUST be contributed to ReStore |
| Relatives & Friends | 350 MAX | 25 MAX of Child Care for Applicant (Children 12 or under) | *While Applicants complete their hours |
| Children 16 & Under | Half Value | +10 for 85% (or above) school attendance | *Separate from required community service hours |