Apply To Own A Habitat Home

Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to creating simple, decent housing for people in need. If you are prepared to work with us, we will work with you to "build a home" for your family.

Click the links or scroll down to see how the process works.

• How Does Habitat Work?
   
• How are Habitat "partner families" chosen?
   
• What is "sweat equity"
   
• How can my family apply for a Habitat house?

Habitat for Humanity ...

• Gives low-income families a hand up, not a hand-out
  
• Builds houses with partner families, using donations from corporations, churches, service clubs, and individuals, in the form of capital, property, and/or goods-in-kind
  
• Receives municipal support only in the form of donations or reduced costs for lots and/or services
  
• Builds simple, decent houses through the cooperative efforts of partner families, volunteers, and professional trades people
  
• Sells houses to partner families at no profit, and finances no-interest mortgages, usually for a 25-year term
  
  
• The mortgage is based on 25% of a family's annual income
  
• Each family contributes 500 hours of "sweat equity"
  
• Expects families to become home owners, and to accept all of the responsibilities of home ownership

Habitat Brant's Family Selection Committee interviews families, using the following guidelines:

1. Need for decent, affordable housing
2. Ability and willingness to pay for and to maintain a house
3. Willingness to partner with Habitat and to support Habitat's objectives

1. Need:
   • What are the family's present living conditions?
   • Can the family afford a house without Habitat's assistance?
   • Does the family's total income fall within the low-income guidelines listed below?
      

   Household Income-1996	% of Total Households(Brant/ Brantford)	Annual Housing Supply Target (Brant/ Brantford)	Annual Housing Supply Target (City of Brantford)	Annual Housing Supply Target (Brant County)	Affordable Rent (Monthly)	Affordable Ownership(Unit Cost)
   Under $10,000	5.3%	31	27	4	Under $250	Under $71,500
   $10,000 to $19,999	16.5%	96	85	11	$250 to $500
   $20,000 to $29,999	14.0%	82	65	17	$500 to $750	$71,500 to $105,000
   $30,000 to $39,999	12.4%	73	57	16	$750 to $1,000	$105,001 to $140,000
   $40,000 to $49,999	11.7%	68	52	16	$1,000 to $1,250	$140,001 to$172,400
   $50,000 and over	40.1%	234	163	71	$1,250 and Higher	$172,400 and Over
   	100.0%	584	449	135

   Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census, and SHS Calculations
   
   

2. Ability to pay for the house:
   • A partner family saves $250 per month, for one year prior to the construction of their house to establish a fund to pay for "closing costs".
   • A partner family makes mortgage payments of approximately $500-$700 per month. This payment does not include utilities, which can average a minimum of $200-$300 per month. Insurance and taxes must also be paid and are extra costs.
   • The total of mortgage, insurance, taxes, and utilities should be 30-35% of the family's monthly gross income.
   • After moving into their house, the family is responsible for mortgage payments, taxes, utilities, and household and maintenance expenses.
   • Habitat reviews the partner family's income annually, and adjusts mortgage payments, as necessary.
   
   
3. Willingness to partner:
   • Habitat works closely with each partner family throughout the selection process, during construction, and for six months after the family moves into their house. However, the partnership between Habitat and the homeowner continues until the mortgage is paid in full.
   • A partner family demonstrates their willingness to partner with Habitat by completing the required 500 hours of sweat equity (volunteer labour). At least 300 of these hours must be completed by the partner family - the remaining sweat equity hours can be fulfilled by extended family and friends.

Prospective Habitat homeowners are required to contribute at least 500 hours of sweat equity-time spent on Habitat for Humanity Brant projects. Families can nominate family members outside of their core family and close friends to work on their behalf in order to accumulate hours more effectively. The hours of their "family list" are tracked by the Habitat Brant office and they must be completed prior to possession of the home.

Whether it's working on their own home, on the homes of other future Habitat homeowners or in our ReStore, applicants contribute toward our mission of creating decent, affordable housing.

Sweat equity reduces the monetary cost of a house and increases the personal stake of each family member in their home. There is a strong sense of empowerment in knowing that the home is not a handout or a gift, but rather something that a partner family has earned themselves - with the help of a caring community.

That participation and sense of empowerment, is an affirmation of the dignity and value of each person and is perhaps Habitat's greatest strength.
 

• If you think that your family might qualify, call the Habitat office at (519) 759-8600 to receive an application form for housing.
• Complete our on-line Inquiry Form and we will contact you to arrange a meeting.
• Complete our on-line Application Form, print it and mail it or drop it off at the Habitat Brant office (address below) and we will contact you to arrange a meeting.
• All information provided to Habitat is confidential.
• Our office is located at:

Habitat for Humanity Brant

408 Henry Street

Brantford, ON

N3S 7W1

Phone: (519) 759-8600

Fax: (519) 751-2032

Email: info@habitatbrant.org

Office Hours: Mon through Fri, 9 am - 5 pm