Affordable Housing

How Do I Become a Habitat Family?

Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast believes that affordable housing brings stability, safety and self-reliance.  We partner with families who are ready for the responsibility and challenges of long term stable housing.  Our families complete 500 hours of volunteer work as part of their commitment to the partnership. This could include working alongside volunteers and skilled trades people to build homes or volunteering at the ReStore or offering help to one of our recycling teams. Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast offers affordable housing that is never more than 30% of our family’s gross income. The model is evolving to serve the best interests of our families and the sustainability of Habitat’s housing initiative.

Do I Qualify?

In order to become a partner in the Habitat for Humanity Program, a low-income, working family must meet our requirements listed below:

  • Be low income, as defined by Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast’s charitable registration with Canada Revenue Agency (Income Limits for families applying for participation in the Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast Housing Program have a minimum gross household income of $41,000 to a maximum of $80,000. These figures are to be reviewed annually and adjusted based on the Government of British Columbia Housing Income Limits (HILs) for the minimum income level required, and Statistics Canada median net household income + 20% (to adjust to gross income) as the upper limit);
  • Have an annual sustainable family income;
  • One or both parents must have been employed for a minimum of 1 year with their current employer;
  • Are Canadian citizens or permanent residents;
  • Have resided on the Sunshine Coast for the last 6 months
  • Have guardianship and primary care of at least one child (under the age of 16), or a child with a disability (under the age of 18) who could not legally live alone
  • Cannot be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage; and
  • Cannot currently own or have an investment in a home or property.
  • A single parent family must provide written proof by way of a separation agreement or court order of each of the following:
  • is divorced from or has been living separate and apart from his/her spouse/partner for the past 12 months;
  • child and spousal support obligations have been determined; and
  • division of family property and responsibility for family debt have been settled

Is That All I Have to Do?

In a nutshell, its commitment that counts. We partner with families who share our values as demonstrated by:

  • Taking the initiative to obtain an application and filling it out completely;
  • Meeting all the requirements of the Housing Program;
  • Providing any requested documentation within the time frame set by HFHSC.
  • Agreeing to reference and credit checks;
  • Readily engaging in the home visit by the Family Selection Committee;
  • Having the ability and desire to complete 500 hours of volunteering within timelines
  • Willing to live in a complex with families from a variety of ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds;
  • Agreeing to act as ‘ambassadors’ of HFHSC, which includes providing a biography about their family to be shared with the public, speaking to the press, attending public events related to the build or a HFHSC activity, and agreeing to be photographed for HFHSC promotional purposes (unless there are issues of safety for any member of the family); and
  • An understanding of and willingness to fulfill the expectations as set out in the Partnership Agreement.

I'm Interested!

If you think you’re a good fit, call us and let us know! Alternatively, you can come by our ReStore and pick up an application in person.

Thank you for your interest in Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast! 

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