Local Ottawa families in need of affordable housing who meet Habitat Greater Ottawa’s eligibility criteria may apply online by submitting a complete Application Form. The application asks for information on the family, current housing conditions, financial and employment history and willingness to partner with Habitat. Click here to go to the Homeownership Application Form.

Applications are screened for eligibility based on three basic criteria: 

1. The ability tomake affordable monthly payments towards the equity of the home;  
2. A family’s willingness to contributevolunteer hours and partner with Habitat Greater Ottawa;  
3. Degree of a family’shousing need. 

Full eligibility criteria includes:  

1. Minimum family household income (before taxes) of $59,137; 
2. Have children under the age of 18; *Please see EXEMPTION
   
3. Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident;  
4. Be living in housing that does not meet your family’s needs;  
5. Be steadily employed, but unable to obtain a conventional mortgage; 
6. Be a first-time homeowner; 
7. Be able to contribute 500 volunteer hours (350 for single-parent families) to help build your own home and participate in other Habitat projects and community activities.

*EXEMPTION: When assessing applications for the accessible units under the Eligibility Criteria, child[ren] 18 years of age or older may be considered if they are a “dependent” and a “person[s] with disabilities”. 

A “DEPENDENT” is considered to be a child, spouse, parent, or other relative to whom one contributes all or a major amount of necessary physical and/or financial support.   

“PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES” include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

The application process is thorough, and screening can take between three to six months. Applications are accepted year-round online. The Family Selection Committee, composed of community volunteers, review all applications and then make a recommendation to the Family Approvals Committee comprised of Board and staff. 

Habitat Greater Ottawa requires each two-parent family to commit 500 volunteer hours. There is no financial compensation for these volunteer hours. Volunteer hours accumulate once the family has officially been selected to join the Habitat Affordable Homeownership Program.  

Examples of how to accumulate volunteer hours include: working on the Habitat build site to construct one’s own home or the homes of others; participating in Habitat media campaign and fundraising events; office work; volunteering in our ReStores; attending homeowner training workshops as well as local community volunteerism. Children can contribute to volunteer hours such as through school grades and activities. There are limits set on the number of hours family members can volunteer on any one activity so that volunteer hours are spread across various activities. 

Up to five additional family members other than those who will be residing in the home and/or friends can also contribute to the required hours. Selected families are matched with community volunteers from the Family Partnership Committee who support families to complete the volunteer hours and homeownership training. 

*Please note volunteer hours and activities are currently being adapted according to provincial and municipal health and safety regulations due to COVID-19. 

Habitat Greater Ottawa does not give away free homes. Our traditional Affordable Homeownership Program allows families to purchase their home at fair market value with no down payment. Monthly mortgage payments are geared to no more than 30 percent of household income. Habitat Greater Ottawa reviews household income annually and will adjust payments accordingly. Once families receive title to the home they are responsible for the ongoing maintenance, insurance, taxes and payment of utilities for the home as well as related condo fees if applicable.  

Kemptville Korners Development

In fall of 2022, we broke ground on our current build in North Grenville, Ontario in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Thousand Islands. This 15-unit development consists of townhomes and stacked townhomes with accessible units available. The build is located in an established community near parks, schools, stores and the district hospital. Once complete, the project will be home up to 64 individuals including over 30 children.  Click here to go to the Habitat Thousand Islands website.

Project Profile  

• Located on Concession Road across from the Kemptville District Hospital and near Kemptville Area Family Resource Centre, local schools, Riverside Park and other amenities  
• 15-unit development comprising conventional townhomes and stacked townhomes as well as accessible barrier-free units on the ground floor  
• Construction slated for spring 2022 with seven homes to be completed in 2022 and eight homes ready in 2023  
• All homes will access either a private balcony or yard  
• Parking available for all units  

• All non-accessible units are 3 or 4-bedroom  
• All accessible units are 2-bedroom  
• The North Grenville project will follow our Blended Mortgage Model*  

Blended Mortgage Model 

Our Blended Mortgage Model  will take effect for our North Grenville development.  Habitat families will purchase their home at fair market value through two affordable mortgages. The first is an interest-bearing mortgage that will come from a financial institution working in partnership with Habitat, with a second interest-free mortgage provided by Habitat. 

This new model will see improved, long-term benefits for families while ensuring Habitat for Humanity can continue to serve even more local families in a sustainable and effective manner.   

Benefits of the Blended Mortgage Model    

• Families approved into our program partner with Habitat to purchase their home at fair-market value.  
• Affordable monthly mortgage payments are capped at 30 percent of household income.   
• There is no down payment required, removing a significant barrier to homeownership for many families.    
• The model allows homeowners to build a formal credit history through a partial interest-bearing mortgage provided by a financial institution, making it easier for families to move onto market homeownership should they choose to.    
• A partial interest-free mortgage held by Habitat ensures continued affordability for homeowners.  
• Expenses such as utilities, property taxes, homeowner insurance and other household needs are the responsibility of the family.  

Habitat Greater Ottawa looks at total household income. Discretionary consideration may be given for non-taxable income such as child tax benefits, support payments and disability pensions as examples, though on a discretionary basis. Homeowners must disclose all income of all family members 18 years of age and older.  Homeowners must disclose all income of all family members.

Habitat’s mandate is to help families, and at least one child must be 18 years of age or under at the time of move in. Habitat Greater Ottawa believes that every child deserves a stable start in a safe and secure home. 

When assessing applications for the accessible units under the Eligibility Criteria, child[ren] 18 years of age or older may be considered if they are a “dependent” and a “person[s] with disabilities”. 

A “DEPENDENT” is considered to be a child, spouse, parent, or other relative to whom one contributes all or a major amount of necessary physical and/or financial support.   

“PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES” include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. 

We have a basic house design that adheres to local planning and building codes. We adhere to a specific design to ensure that construction is ‘volunteer friendly’, cost effective, and keeping within Habitat’s guidelines. Click here to review our Current Builds for more information on specific build project profiles.  

Habitat Greater Ottawa typically builds three and four–bedroom homes. Our accessible homes are two or three-bedrooms. If you have specific housing needs, for example to meet you family’s accessibility needs, please speak to our Family Services team by emailing home@habitatgo.ca to ensure our homes are suitable for your family.  

Yes, we will take into consideration special needs and build to reflect those needs. Accessible housing can work for everyone, including those with physical disabilities. It also allows people to stay in their homes as their circumstances change, without expensive renovations. Habitat Greater Ottawa’s accessible units feature wider door frames, open turning spaces within rooms, easy-to grab handle levers and light switches, a wheel-in shower stall and kitchen work surfaces with knee space below and adjustable storage spaces above.  

Our accessible homes are two or three-bedrooms. If you require accessible housing to meet you family’s needs, please email our Family Services team at home@habitatgo.ca to ensure our homes are suitable for your family. 

Our townhomes do include a basement, assuming the location, the type of home and if building codes permit a basement. Habitat’s stacked townhomes and accessible units do not always include a basement.  

Additions to the house can be built by the homeowner, but only with the permission of Habitat Greater Ottawa and with the necessary approvals and City of Ottawa building permits, and only once title has been transferred to the homeowner. Construction must be completed by a qualified contractor. 

Habitat Greater Ottawa retains all rights on the house should the homeowner wish to sell via its ‘Buy Back Policy’. Habitat Greater Ottawa has first right of refusal on the home and will in turn sell that home to another family in need of affordable housing. 

Yes, when the mortgage has been paid in full. The home may be left in a will just like any other home. 

This depends on the timing of the bankruptcy and when the applicant submitted their application with Habitat Greater Ottawa. Each condition will be assessed fairly and the circumstance for bankruptcy will be reviewed, however more recent bankruptcy will require additional investigation. 

Signed statements from a landlord, bank, hydro and other organizations that are dealt with on an ongoing basis can be good sources of credit history in the absence of a formal credit history. 

To date, Habitat Greater Ottawa mortgages have not been reported to the Credit Bureau.