Building Homes, Building Hope

For information on our Fall Outreach sessions for 2007, please click here.

Our goal is to make good single and multiple unit housing available to families who would otherwise not be able to have their own home. In partnership with many volunteers from the Habitat community, you will help build your own home.

You will own this house by making monthly mortgage payments like most homeowners.

Building a house is an expensive business. Costs include the land, materials and labour. With the help of Habitat volunteers, most of the labour costs will disappear.

Materials are often donated and many professional tradespeople donate their services. People you have never met will be helping you with your house. These include fundraisers who are getting the money to pay for the materials and the land and for the extra money we need to let you have an interest-free mortgage. Other volunteers work at the Habitat ReStore, on committees, in the office or at public functions where they promote Habitat for Humanity to churches, businesses, community organizations and service clubs.

Habitat House Designs

These are the main aspects of a Habitat House:
  • Simple, decent, affordable;
  • Meets all building codes and requirements;
  • All houses have a living room, kitchen and eating area;
  • All houses have at least 3 bedrooms and are at least 1000 square feet in size;
  • Some houses will have 4 bedrooms if families have more than 6 members;
  • All houses have high efficiency gas furnaces along with R20 insulation in walls and R40 insulation in ceiling;
  • Good quality doors and windows are installed
  • Floors have carpet and vinyl;
  • Walls are painted and ceilings are stipple finished;
  • The exterior usually has vinyl siding;
  • The lot will be sodded (there may be other landscaping options);
  • There will be a driveway;
  • Four new basic appliances are provided.
Here is what is not included:
  • No garage;
  • No Air conditioning, dishwashers, fencing or bay windows, etc;
  • No upgrades to base materials.

Habitat Family FAQ

  1. How much sweat equity must I contribute?
    500 hours is expected for families and 250 hours for single parent families. Habitat encourages you to continue helping others with their houses even if you have completed your required number of hours.

  2. Who can contribute sweat equity?
    • You and members of your immediate family who will be living in the house.
    • Relatives and friends (up to 5) may contribute up to 30% of your required hours.
    • Attending Habitat Homeowner workshop classes accounts for approximately 10% of required hours (these count as double hours).
    • Family partnering representative can contribute up to 10% of your hours.
    • Volunteering with community organizations may contribute up to 10%.
    • School credits from children or adults in your family may also contribute up to 10%.
    • Activities such as attending pre-approved Home Improvement Classes and Homeowner Association activities may count towards your sweat equity.


  3. What Habitat work qualifies for sweat equity?
    Sweat equity can include all aspects of work on your house or on a future Habitat house, such as construction, painting, preparing or serving food, security, or clean-up. It also includes work at the Habitat ReStore, participating on a committee; publicity work, manning a booth at a Home Show, working in the office, helping with mailings, etc.

  4. When can I start my sweat equity?
    You can start to record your sweat equity when you have been selected as a "qualified Habitat family" and have signed a Partnership Agreement.

  5. How do I learn about sweat equity opportunities?
    Your family partner will help keep you informed of opportunities to volunteer with the Habitat office, the Volunteer Committee or the Habitat ReStore Committee.

  6. How is my mortgage paid off?
    When a house is completed, an appraisal is done to calculate the market value of the house and property.

    Habitat will hold two Mortgages on the house and property. The first mortgage represents 80% of the calculated market value and the second mortgage represents the balance.

    A family must repay the first mortgage to Habitat in its entirety. In effect, Habitat becomes the bank. Like a bank, Habitat expects regular monthly payments. A family who falls behind in mortgage payments could lose their house.

    Typically families contribute between 25% and 30% of their Gross Household Income towards the interest-free first mortgage and this mortgage is typically repaid within 20 to 25 years.

    The second mortgage is also held by Habitat; however a portion of it is relieved every year between years 12 and 20. Once the first mortgage is completely paid off, a family will own 100% of the house and property.

  7. What about utilities and Maintenance?
    As a homeowner, you will be responsible for paying all utilities (gas, electricity, water, telephone and cable, etc.) plus property taxes and insurance on the house.

    Homeowners are also responsible for performing proper maintenance on the house.

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