Habitat for Humanity's P.E.I. branch working to change wrong beliefs about its housing

As Habitat for Humanity plans new builds in Tyne Valley, O'Leary and Three Rivers in 2024, it's working to change a commonly held impression among Island residents about what it does. 

"There's that stigma that it's poverty relief," said Pam Schurman-Montgomery, CEO of the non-profit's P.E.I. operation, adding that she hears this type of misconception often.

"I've spoken to several organizations — municipalities and individuals — who feel that we provide social housing, and that our housing is somewhat subsidized. It's not," she said.

She is still waiting to see what type of housing the new builds will be in the three Island communities this spring, though she said they will likely be multiple-home buildings such as townhouses. As always, donations from people, businesses and other agencies will cut the cost to the eventual buyer. 

What makes units like these affordable is not the overall price the selected homeowners will pay for them, but the details of the mortgage, said Schurman-Montgomery. 

"With us, it's the opportunity to get into a mortgage where your payments are no greater than 30 per cent of your gross household income, and there's no down payment on it," she said.

"It's an affordable mortgage opportunity. It's affordable home ownership."

"Habitat's homebuyers invest hundreds of hours of their own labour, called sweat equity, working alongside volunteers and other Habitat homeowners, in addition to paying an affordable mortgage and receiving financial education," says the group's main website.

Hundreds of applications on P.E.I.

Last year, Habitat for Humanity had 123 applications for just six homes it built on P.E.I. This year, the group asked for pre-applications, before the units were even designed, and has received almost 300 so far. 

Staff will internally review applications, then pass them along with no names attached to a committee who picks the successful candidates based on their life stories.

Making a final decision is "pretty tough," said Schurman-Montgomery.

Given all those circumstances, she said she wouldn't want anyone who gets one of these homes to deal with any stigma.

"We're pushing pretty hard with our messaging and communications to dissuade that conversation."