So Who Gets A Habitat For Humanity Home?

Sharon Matthews | Feb 27, 2013

Most of us who own our homes had help getting there. However, not everyone has families or friends with the means to help them buy a home. That's where Habitat for Humanity can help. Habitat builds modest, affordable homes, then sells them to qualifying families, with no financial down payment and no interest on the mortgage. Habitat helps those who are helping themselves; hard working folks striving to get ahead. You know the people. The single mom or dad working two jobs; the husband and wife with three young children working hard to stay ahead of the bills; the older couple who have spent their life renting, never being able to save enough to gain the security of home ownership. Our community has many families like this, and with a little help from Habitat and the community, home ownership can become a real possibility.

Take one of the families that recently bought a Habitat home in Bath. Michael Lortie and Aileen Young and their two children.

Mike suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, a degenerative auto-immune disease. The stairs in their previous home had become a real challenge for Mike so they started looking for alternatives. It was their realtor who suggested they consider applying for a home with Habitat.

At first, they thought Habitat wasn't for them - they were not on any form of financial assistance and did not consider themselves low income. However, after receiving more information, they realized they were just the kind of family that Habitat helps - a family living in unsuitable housing but able to realistically afford Habitat's zero interest mortgage payments, with a willingness to step up and earn that down payment through 500 volunteer hours - essentially helping to build their own home!

So, if you are such a family, or you know of a family, please encourage them to apply. Jane Drew is the local contact. She can be reached at 613-375-6142 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get an Expression of Interest form. If you would like to get involved in other ways, please contact Sharon Matthews at 613-375-8343, or e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are looking for people who can hammer nails, do landscaping or paint during the build; people who like organizing and fundraising; those who can make sandwiches for the workers; suppliers who can donate materials and contractors who can donate some time. We can use your help as we try to get Habitat working for our community ... One Home at a Time.