Published: July 14, 2009 7:00 PM Vernon Morning Star:
There are some people who don’t have a home and in Vernon there is a home that doesn’t have any people. The Vernon affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, Kelowna Chapter, is now accepting applications for a family for its first home built, currently under construction on 25th Avenue but there have been no applications for the home which has a no-down payment, no-interest mortgage for qualified applicants. “People have a perception of Habitat as helping really needy families but the experience has been that very low-income families have too much difficulty in maintaining the mortgages,” said Brenda DeBoice of the family selection committee. “There are even misconceptions that this is a way to get a free house, maybe because in Third World countries, Habitat is able to help the most needy with very basic housing.”
This is a new concept to Vernon. The core purpose of Habitat is to build homes with partner families and sell the homes, at no profit and no interest, to families who could not otherwise afford ownership. The families that Habitat helps are those who would have difficulty acquiring a downpayment and qualifying for a typical for-profit mortgage. Habitat is not able to give away homes. Families must have the ability to manage a mortgage, in payments of approximately 30 per cent of their monthly income, that is based on the fair market value of the home, over a period of 25 years. “The home for which we currently seek a family is unique in that it is part of a six-plex being constructed through a community partnership. The home is a spacious three-bedroom unit with a balcony and play area outdoors, a garden view from every vantage point, and an urban setting. For this home we seek a family of three with a gross annual income of $28,500, to a family of six with a gross annual income of $44,000. This meets the requirements of this particular community partnership, but allows for the family’s ability to pay the mortgage, without undue strain,” explained DeBoice.
For more information on being a Habitat partner family call 250-545-9482 or email
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