Nov. 22 marked National Housing Day and Habitat for Humanity Wellington Dufferin Guelph (Habitat WDG) recognizes the profound impact that Canada’s affordable housing crisis is having in the community, and how Habitat’s model of affordable homeownership is an important part of the solution.
According to recently released results from the 2016 census, one in four Canadians spend 30% or more of their income on housing costs. In Guelph, one in five people are living in core housing need, which means that their housing is too expensive and is unsuitable for their living situation.
This lack of decent and affordable housing options has meant that people in the community are struggling to make ends meet, often while living in sub-standard housing.
“As Habitat WDG has grown as an organization, we’ve been able to do more to break the cycle of poverty by building more affordable homes,” said Steve Howard, CEO of Habitat for Humanity WDG.
“There is a spectrum of poverty, and Habitat helps one piece of this spectrum – build affordable homes to move individuals and families into home ownership so they can gain equity, helping to break the cycle of poverty.
“To address more of the spectrum, we work in concert with other housing providers who provide affordable housing options. This allows us to be a bigger and better solution provider.”
Cityview Village
Habitat WDG is currently entering a partnership with the County of Wellington that is supporting the build of eight of the 30 homes being developed with Habitat’s latest project, Cityview Village.
This partnership has resulted in the exploration of rental and ownership models that set new standards for supporting seniors, special need individuals and low-income families in achieving affordable housing.
“In partnership with the City of Guelph, we are planning for the development of the former IMICO property, and in a few years, every citizen in Guelph will be able to boast that their community has created and built an affordable home development on a scale that hasn’t been seen elsewhere in Ontario,” Howard said.
“We are leading a coalition of social agencies that together will occupy more than 100 affordable rental and ownership homes, including green homes, on this property.
“That is something that we all have a stake in, and is something we can be proud of as a community.”
Third property
In addition to Cityview Village and the former IMICO site, Habitat WDG is in the due diligence phase on a third property in Guelph, which will realize 72 more affordable homes within the next couple of years, which adds up to an additional 200 affordable homes in Guelph.
“We can’t build on this scale alone,” Howard said.
“Every safe, decent and affordable home we build costs approximately $75,000.
“Sponsorships and donations from our community and sponsorships help us fund our developments, and corporate partnerships, including those of The Co-Operators and the Guelph District Association of Realtors are a crucial component of our model.”
Building Home for the Holiday
To build community support, Habitat WDG has launched its holiday campaign, Building Home for the Holidays, and is asking the community to help build homes one piece at a time.
Every donation received will go directly to building homes in the community.
To learn more, visit buildhomefortheholidays.com.
