Dawson Ave Home Build
About the build
We’ll soon break ground on a new project at 10 Dawson Avenue in Stoney Creek—a groundbreaking model designed to help more families achieve homeownership. What’s special about this build is we’re deploying a whole new model; this will be a rent-to-equity program that provides a stepping stone for families in need of a hand up to enter the housing market on their own terms.
10 Brand New Homes
This development features 5 street-facing townhomes, each with an accessory dwelling unit in the basement, totaling 10 two-bedroom homes designed to house and uplift families.
Fair Market Rent with a Pathway to Savings
Homes at Dawson Avenue will be offered through Habitat Hamilton’s innovative Lease-with-Equity program. Families will pay fair market rent for their unit, but a portion of their monthly payments will be returned to them and invested on their behalf. Over time, this allows participants to build meaningful savings that can be used toward a future down payment, helping create a pathway toward homeownership.
Why Lease-with-Equity
As the housing crisis in Hamilton expands, many working families earning moderate incomes can no longer access homeownership.
This program aims to address the “missing middle” – households who earn too much for subsidized housing but cannot afford a home in Hamilton’s current market. Our traditional affordable homeownership programs remain core to our mission. This initiative expands our impact and ability to serve more Hamilton families.
Expanded Impact
As families move out and achieve independent homeownership, new families move in, creating an ongoing cycle of empowerment and financial stability.
High-Efficiency, Sustainable Homes
These homes will be built with advanced energy-efficient features designed to reduce energy consumption compared to typical new construction by more than 40%. A variety of modern building techniques and “green” features will help create comfortable homes that are significantly more environmentally sustainable and less costly to operate for the families who live in them.
Why it Matters
Housing affordability is at a crisis point in Hamilton, making it nearly impossible for hardworking families to enter the market. This innovative transitional program allows families to live affordably while actively building savings for homeownership—turning rent into an investment in their future.
We Need Your Support
Help us make this build a reality for 10 deserving Hamilton families!
No matter how you support Habitat Hamilton, you are ensuring that deserving Hamilton families achieve affordable housing. Together we build homes, communities, and hope in our city.
Click the links to the right to explore different ways to support the Dawson Ave Home Build and Habitat Hamilton’s mission.
Dawson Home Build Supporters
