Habitat for Humanity taking applications for Sarnia tiny homes

The CEO of Habitat for Humanity Sarnia-Lambton expects a large number of applications for five tiny homes it plans to build in 2025 on Christina Street in Sarnia.

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David Waters and other Habitat for Humanity representatives were on hand Thursday at an open house for the project expected to be built next year at 263 Christina St., S., across from Rainbow Park.

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The project will be a single-storey building with five connected 36 square meter (384-square-foot) units and onsite parking, as well as a common outdoor area.

“It’s compact, but good still,” Waters said. Habitat for Humanity set up a model at the open house held at the Sunbridge Hotel in Point Edward so those attending the afternoon and evening sessions could get a sense of how much space there will be in the tiny homes.

They are designed, ideally, for one to two people to live in, including “seniors, singles, couples,” Waters said. “You’d be hard pressed to fit more than two.”

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The units will come furnished with appropriately sized items and will have a double bed, standard washroom, pullout couch, dining table, washer, dryer, fridge and stove, Waters said.

“This is truly about downsizing in your life and living affordably,” he said.

Applications for what will be a deferred ownership project, much like one for seniors Habitat built in 2018 on Guthrie Drive in Sarnia, are now being taken, Waters said.

“We’ll accept those for the next few months and hopefully before the end of the year we’ll be choosing our families,” he said.

That will help the families selected complete “sweat equity” hours that are part of Habitat for Humanity’s no down payment, no interest ownership model.

“We anticipate a lot of applications,” Waters said. “Guthrie had 350.”

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Residents build equity under the deferred ownership model that will be used for the project, he said. “It’s basically a rent-to-own.”

Waters said they decided on a tiny home approach at the site to maximize the number of homes that can be created. Only one traditional single-family house would fit on the lot, he said.

“There’s a lot of people in need and the more we can house on an individual lot, the better,” he said.

Construction is expected to begin in May 2025. Waters said the cost of the project is still being determined, but it’s hoped the monthly rental payments can be about $750, “so very affordable.”

He told those gathered at the afternoon open house it hasn’t been determined yet if utilities will be included in the monthly rent.

The construction will use insulated concrete form blocks from floor to ceiling, Waters said. “The insult level will be very high.”

Habitat for Humanity has been building affordable homes in Sarnia and other Lambton County communities since 1994.

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