All housing operates on the housing continuum. At the far side, there are people who are in crisis, or without a permanent residence. Between these two are people who are paying their own rent with assistance. Finally, there are independent renters and homeowners. Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga offers affordable homes to families and individuals in our community. By increasing the supply of affordable homes, and helping more families achieve homeownership, Habitat helps free up resources that can be used for other families in need.
Sustainability is measured by how long a tenant should ideally be living within a space. At the beginning of the continuum, the stay is short compared to how long someone would rent an apartment (minimum one year). The continuum ends with homeownership. As a non-profit home builder, our goal is to see every person reach homeownership.
Affordability is the second way to measure the housing continuum. At the low end of the housing continuum, spaces are either provided or subsidized as they are provided largely by a governing body or a charitable organization. The continuum includes different types of renting such as assisted renting or private renting. The further along a tenant is on the continuum, the less support is required from an assisting party.
The housing continuum is a concrete way to think about the goal of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat’s job will be completed when everyone makes it to the part of the continuum that includes affordable homeownership and market homeownership. Our goal is to see everyone have a safe and decent place to call their own.
The housing continuum takes into consideration the resources available for housing. Habitat builds new homes, adding to the supply of affordable housing in the community. These new homes lessen the strain put on existing social housing in a community. When families and individuals move into a Habitat for Humanity home their previous position in the continuum is opened up for others to move forward too. Other social services benefit from families and individuals moving into Habitat homes. When Habitat empowers someone to change their position in the housing continuum that person is provided with independence and a more sustainable living arrangement. By giving partner families the opportunity to leave precarious living situations to live in truly affordable housing, they are able to afford other necessities on their own – reducing the strain on other social services.
Want to help against the housing crunch that affects our community more than ever? Take a look at how we can increase the supply of affordable housing in the GTA.