(Friday, June 12, 2020–Hamilton, ON) The need for a safe and decent place to live doesn’t stop during a pandemic. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that we all deserve a place to call home while sheltering in place.
Despite the challenges COVID-19 has presented for people around the world, Habitat Hamilton has been able to continue its build efforts and support its homeowners, as the organization navigates this unparalleled global pandemic and all of its repercussions.
Since March, we’ve offered mortgage relief to our homeowner families– working hard to ensure that they have the financial security to weather this storm. We’ve checked in with them on a regular basis, to make sure their mortgage payments don’t impede their ability to pay other bills or buy healthy foods.
Now more than ever, a safe and decent place to live is essential to the health and well-being of our communities. In order to continue to flatten the curve, people are asked to stay home as much as possible, but for some that means living in a house that’s moldy, overcrowded, or unsafe. Thankfully, Habitat Hamilton is able to continue its home construction, albeit pivoting to accommodate new physical distancing measures, sanitation, and safety protocols.
It’s enabled us to look to the future with optimism as we open our call for Expression of Interest applicants—to find five new future Habitat homeowner families for our Sherman Avenue build.
With design work and soil remediation currently underway, we plan to construct a row of townhouses on Sherman Avenue North, creating five new affordable homeownership opportunities for Hamilton residents. Each town-home will be sold to qualifying Hamilton residents, who will not be required to provide a down payment on the mortgage. Held by Habitat Hamilton, mortgages will also be geared-to-income and interest-free.
Each two-storey town-home will provide up to 1,500 square feet of livable space, including on-site parking for one vehicle. Each town will also have a front porch and a fenced-in backyard.
With plans to officially break-ground in 2021, Habitat Hamilton is publicizing its call for Expression of Interest applicants, requesting the community to apply and help us spread the word.
Our impact is only as strong as the partnerships we forge with our homeowners. And in order for our Home Build Program to be successful, we seek beneficiaries who are well suited for homeownership but who cannot secure a conventional mortgage.
Habitat Hamilton welcomes those who meet our basic criteria to submit an Expression of Interest form. We advise all interested applicants visit our website to review eligibility criteria and requirements.
“Like most local businesses, we had to quickly adapt to the challenges posed by COVID-19,” says Sean Ferris, Habitat Hamilton’s Executive Director. “Though we had to temporarily close our ReStore for a couple of months (we’ve since reopened), we’re fortunate enough to continue our home build program without much delay. Announcing our call for applicants is the good news story our community needs during this time.”
“This is excellent news for the communities we serve,” says Tom Vert, Board Chair. “We’re thrilled to announce our call for applications and we look forward to growing our community of Habitat homeowners.”
For more information on homeowner criteria and to download Habitat Hamilton’s Expression of Interest form, please visit: https://ebapi.ca/habitat/applyforahome/
About Habitat for Humanity Hamilton:
Founded in 1991, Habitat for Humanity Hamilton is an independent, not-for-profit housing program that builds strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. Habitat Hamilton has accommodated 30 Habitat homeowner families locally since its incorporation, and is one of Habitat Canada’s fastest growing affiliates, with several builds and developments forthcoming. For more information, please visit www.ebmediatestsite.ca/test8.
For more information, please contact:
Sean Ferris, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Hamilton
Phone: 905-560-6707 ext. 108
Email: sean@ebapi.ca