One year ago, Kiley and her husband attended a homeownership information session held by Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North (Habitat VIN). Later this year, their family will move into a safe and affordable home that they had a hand in creating.
Habitat VIN is now seeking more Comox Valley families to partner with them to become homeowners. The organization will hold an information session on Monday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m. at the Lewis Centre in Courtenay.
Kiley encourages families who are struggling with unaffordable rent, or poor housing conditions, to attend. The information session opened her eyes to how she and her husband could provide strength and stability to their family through Habitat’s affordable homeownership program.
“It is like I can finally breathe,” explained Kiley. “After years of worrying, we will now have something stable, safe, and ours. We don’t have to worry about not having a place to live.”
Habitat VIN empowers families to become self-reliant through their affordable homeownership program. Families who apply and are accepted to become Habitat homeowners purchase their home through an affordable mortgage set at 30 per cent of their annual income.
For Kiley, and many Habitat homeowner families, partnering with the organization has brought more than expected into her life.
“Everyone has been like family. I have made a ton of friends, including other Habitat homeowners,” said Kiley. “Working with Habitat for Humanity has been life-changing.”
To qualify to partner with Habitat, a family must be in need of better housing. Potential homebuyers may be dealing with unhealthy or inadequate housing, unaffordable rent, or other issues that make their living situation unsuitable. They must also be willing to partner with Habitat to complete 500 volunteer hours and have the ability to pay an affordable mortgage.
Applicants must have custody of at least one child under the age of 18, and have an income range between $32,500.00 and $59,500.00, depending on family size.
To learn more about Habitat’s homeownership program, and to register your attendance for the upcoming information session, visit www.habitatnorthisland.com/apply
You can also contact Karen McKinnon, family services manager, at apply@habitatnorthisland.com or 250-334-3777 ext. 226.