New stacked townhome units on Shantz Hill will provide affordable housing to 24 families in Cambridge.
Waterloo, ON - June 7, 2022 – Activa, Waterloo Region’s largest and most active homebuilder, is proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region on building a brand-new affordable housing community for families in Cambridge.
Located on Shantz Hill, the project will focus on redeveloping the vacant site to allow for a proposed 24 stacked townhomes for working families and their children. The project aims to provide options for families who may face barriers, such as qualifying for a traditional bank mortgage, so they can begin to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.
“A home provides not only the physical space but more importantly the emotional space where individuals and families find their solace and enjoyment,” says Tony Giovinazzo, CEO of Activa. “We are proud to partner with Habitat to assist in bridging a gap for families who may face barriers to owning a home.”
Housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30% of your income. In the Waterloo Region, 1 in 4 households lack an affordable place to live, making them at risk of falling into a cycle of poverty. With the recent changes in the housing market, Habitat’s Affordable Homeownership Program provides the best possible opportunity for these families to continue to access homeownership.
Habitat’s program allows those eligible to purchase their own home at fair market value with no down payment, eliminating one of the biggest financial barriers to owning a home. The program also offers families an affordable monthly mortgage geared to their income. All Habitat homeowners go through an application process to determine their level of housing need, their ability to pay an affordable monthly mortgage and their willingness to partner, including completing 500 hours of community volunteering before moving into their home.
Habitat for Humanity has been building affordable housing for lower income families since 1988. As a nonprofit organization, they rely heavily on donors that offer time, funds, and materials. Activa takes its commitment to helping the organization further through offering its expert architectural design services and building team to bring an entirely new stacked townhome product to life.
“Activa has been a long-time supporter of Habitat Waterloo Region. Because of Activa’s commitment to community, we are going to be able to impact more families together than we could on our own,” says Philip Mills, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region.
Activa is building these homes to be ENERGY STAR® certified, which is 20% more energy-efficient than those built to minimum building code requirements. Energy-saving features such as insulation upgrades, higher-performance windows, better draft proofing and more efficient heating, hot water, and air conditioning systems will provide increased savings and comfort for families.
Over the past 30 years, Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region has been able to help more than 145 local families move into a home. After moving in, homeowners report being happier, healthier and more financially secure thanks to the program.
ABOUT ACTIVA
Activa is Waterloo Region’s largest and most active homebuilder, bringing life to communities through our home designs and neighbourhood planning. Activa proudly offers a unique customer experience journey for its homeowners to reduce the anxiety and stress that often comes with building a home and is committed to going above and beyond minimum building code practices through participation in programs like ENERGY STAR®.
ABOUT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WATERLOO REGION
Founded in 1988, Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region is a charitable organization working toward a world where everyone has a decent place to live. In Waterloo Region, 1 in 4 households lacks a decent, affordable place to live making them at risk of falling into a cycle of poverty. Our model of affordable homeownership bridges a gap for lower-income, working families by providing them with the opportunity to purchase their own Habitat home.
MEDIA CONTACT
Jessica Flanagan, Marketing Manager
Email: marketing@activa.ca
Jennifer Peacock, Marketing and Communications Manager
Email: jpeacock@habitatwr.ca
