Michelle’s Story

“Being a homeowner will give us a sense of stability in an extremely difficult housing market,” says Michelle.

Michelle was thinking about her son’s future when she applied for the Habitat Victoria homeownership program. After many years of renting, Michelle wanted to build a solid foundation for her son. “I applied to Habitat on a hope, and it’s been an incredible journey since toward homeownership,” says Michelle. 

In their spare time, Michelle and her son like to spend as much time as they can outdoors. “We are always on the go with something - from baseball games to swimming, the calendar is always packed,” says Michelle. 

With the current housing crisis in our community, Michelle believed homeownership was out of the question for her small, one income family. Faced with yearly rental increases and the constant threat of relocation from renoviction, Michelle feared she could no longer afford to live in Victoria. “If you are forced to move from your rental, the next rental prices are not attainable even with a great job,” says Michelle. The lack of stability in the rental market is what drove Michelle to apply to Habitat’s affordable homeownership program. Because Habitat’s program ensures that our homeowner’s monthly payments will never exceed 30% of their income, Michelle’s family will not be subjected to market increases outside of their budget. 

Owning their own home will allow Michelle to put down roots and build a strong future for herself and her son. “Being a homeowner will give us a sense of stability in an extremely difficult housing market,” says Michelle. Knowing she will have a safe, affordable home for her son to learn and grow in provides her with a great deal of relief. “I am looking forward to having stability in housing. Being able to get into this market is great because I don’t think it’s very accessible to people anymore without the Habitat Program, especially single parents,” says Michelle.

Once accepted to the Habitat Program Michelle began her journey towards completing the required 500 hours of volunteer service. She has enthusiastically taken on a variety of volunteer roles with the charity, including at the ReStore, the Gingerbread Showcase, and helping the marketing team. “It has been such a pleasure to complete my volunteer service hours. Habitat has been extremely accommodating of my busy schedule, ensuring flexibility in the roles and times that I can complete my hours,” says Michelle. 

Michelle also shares how impactful it will be to free up her current apartment for another member of the community. With the rental supply at an all-time low, we know that all opportunities for a place to call home contribute to addressing our critical need for housing. 

Michelle's story reflects the ongoing challenge that many Greater Victoria families face in the current housing market. Habitat Victoria’s affordable housing program will give Michelle the opportunity to build a safe and stable future for her and her son.