The Importance of Affordable Home Ownership

As indicated by the report “Building Families’ Futures and Opportunities Through Habitat Homeownership” Habitat’s model of affordable homeownership helps families build strength, stability and independence – and builds stronger, healthier communities at the same time. While homeownership has become much more challenging for Canadians, it remains out of reach for many low-income families. Habitat’s model of affordable homeownership bridges a gap for people, providing working families on low incomes the opportunity to purchase their own home. On average, Habitat generates $175,000 of benefits to society per home. These benefits come in the form of reduced reliance on social housing and food banks, better educational and employment outcomes and improved health. In Canada, Habitat’s affordable homeownership program has created a social return on investment of over $633 million since 1985.