Home ownership is only a dream for many families today but in North Bay, a local group is helping make that dream a reality.
The Home Ownership Affordability Partnership (HOAP) helps families with children secure their own safe and affordable housing. The HOAP project is a partnership between the North Bay Real Estate Board, Caisse Populaire North Bay, CMHC, COGECO, District of Nipissing Social Services Board, Community Homeownership Action Group, Nipissing District Housing Corporation and Northern Credit Union.
HOAP recruits qualifying families, chooses qualifying houses and assists the family to negotiate for its purchase, arranges forgivable loans for the down payment and renovation improvements, renovates the house, sets up all family support systems and services, locates the volunteers and manages the project.
On June 12, the North Bay Real Estate Board held their annual golf tournament in support of HOAP. Through the generosity of others – and through the hard work of fundraising chair Scott Carr – a $5,000 donation was made to HOAP. Scott, a REALTOR® with Century 21 Blue Sky Region Realty Inc, has spent the last two years raising money for HOAP.
As a result of the combined efforts of all the project partners, Gaetan Jobin, his partner Danielle Lavictoire and their 18-month old daughter, Abigail, are proud new owners of HOAP’s second acquisition.
“It feels like we almost won the lottery,” Jobin said. “And we’re not usually too lucky so we were kind of surprised.”
With the help of volunteers, HOAP extends the useful life of existing residential dwelling stock through renovation and rehabilitation. HOAP also provides long-term training, mentorship and cooperative support systems for new homeowners.
The family contributes to the redesign and renovation plan. As homeowners, they are eligible for a Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program grant from CMHC. This helps revitalize residential neighborhoods through direct investment and through family and organizational commitment to improve the quality of life in these communities. With the HOAP project everyone is a winner!
