Welcome! 2010 Housing Information Session

1. Welcome! 2010 Housing Information Session Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.

2. Tonight’s Meeting • Facts about Habitat • What We Do • How We Do It • How To Become A Habitat Family • Questions

3. Facts About Habitat... • Mission – mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty • Vision – a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live • Values – housing for all, diversity & inclusiveness

4. Facts About Habitat... • Founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia USA • Operates in 200 countries around the world • Over 300,000 homes have been built so far • 72 Habitat offices across Canada • 35 homesbuilt in the National Capital Region (NCR), plus 4 renovated homes • 1 new home and 2 renovations in 2010

5. What We Do... We build simple, decent, affordable homes for low income working families

6. How We Do It... For each house: • Find or buy land • Raise $75,000 in cash • Ask for donations worth another $75,000 • Work with volunteers to build the homes • Sell sponsorships for the homes, (i.e. Home Depot Canada House)

7. Habitat Homes SIMPLE, DECENT, AFFORDABLE • 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom • 1000 to 1200 square feet. • Meets or exceeds all building code requirements • Energy efficiency • No frills

8. Homeownership Means... • Paying a mortgage • Being responsible for home repairs and upkeep • Paying all home bills – water, hydro, gas, telephone, cable, etc. • Purchase of a Habitat home within the NCR

9. National Capital Region

10. Partnering with Habitat NCR... When Selected… On waiting list (up to 24 months) • Assigned Family Partners • Contribute volunteer hours, “Sweat Equity” and help to build your home • Serve as a Habitat “Ambassador” • Must remain qualified for a Habitat home until you move into and own your new home

11. Sweat Equity As a partner family you must contribute volunteer hours: • 500 hours or 250 for a single parent family. • All of these hours must be completed before a family can take possession of their home

12. Sweat Equity Examples: • Community Association voluntary work • Home Ownership/repair courses • Work at the Habitat ReStore • Volunteer on Habitat home building projects

13. Paying A Mortgage... • Habitat serves as the “bank” providing a mortgage based on the home’s appraised value • Your mortgage: • is interest free • equals 25-30% of your annual gross household income (GHI) • includes home insurance and property taxes

14. Applying For A Home... • First - attend a Habitat Information Session • Next - Complete the Application Form • Families meeting application criteria will be interviewed in their current home by Habitat representatives • Short list of qualified families will be assessed for final selection • All short-listed families notified of results • Selected Families assigned Habitat Family Partners

15. Home Application Form... LOTS and LOTS of Questions! GROSS HOUSEHOLD INCOME = All income before taxes. (GHI) examples include: All job income Universal Child Care Benefit CPP/QPP Worker’s Compensation EI Welfare Child Support Spousal Support

16. Home Application Form...

17. Applicants must provide lots of information for selection process • Information required about you and your family members includes: • Personal details (age, citizenship, financial history) • Current and past employment • Current and past income

18. Final Thoughts... • Home Application is due by • 5:00pm on March 3, 2010 • Complete your application early and gather all required documents • Information submitted to Habitat is kept confidential • Habitat will reject applicants who provide false or misleading information

19. Questions? Habitat is founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety.