Home Ownership:  Criteria

The following pertains only to families applying for home ownership in the City of Portage la Prairie.  We are currently accepting applications.

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Family selection is based on three principals: 

• Need

• Ability to pay

• Willingness to partner

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Habitat for Humanity Manitoba reserves the right to make the final decision for acceptance on all applications.  The following criteria are applied to determine eligibility.

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• The applicant must be employed for a minimum of the past two years in the community in which the house will be built.

• They must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada.

• They must not be receiving income from Employment & Income Assistance (social assistance.)

• They must be ready to live where Habitat is building in the community.

• They must be willing to complete sweat-equity-hours prior to house possession (500 hours for two parent families; 350 hours for one parent families).

• Preference will be given to families with young children.

• Present housing must be at least one of the following: - too expensive, - too small, - too unsafe, - or substandard.  Applicants cannot currently own an house.

• They must be prepared to purchase an home at market value and be able to commit to a mortgage.  Monthly mortgage payments (which include property taxes) are 25% of total family income as defined on line 150 of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Notice of Assessment.

• Total family income as defined on line 150 of the CRA Notice of Assessment must be within the range as set out in the following table:

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• They must be willing to provide the most recent CRA Notice of Assessment, as well as consent for Habitat to contact references from employer, landlord, and 2 other people who know the applicant well.

• They must consent to a credit check.

• There must have been at least three years since a bankruptcy has been discharged.

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Selected families enter into a partnership agreement with HFHW by signing a contract. Once the sweat equity requirement is completed, and the house is built; the family signs an offer to purchase the home.

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For more information on becoming a Habitat Homeowner, please complete an application available at the Family Resource Centre (234 Princess Avenue) or contact us by email: webuild@habitatportage.ca