County Land Sale May Pave the Way for New Habitat for Humanity Homes in Picton

Date: May 14, 2023

A surplus parcel of municipal land in Picton could soon become the site of the community’s next Habitat for Humanity housing project, following a recent decision by County council.

Council approved the sale of land located on Bowery Street and a portion of Delhi Park to Prince Edward Hastings Habitat for Humanity, opening the door for a future affordable housing development.

The property is expected to sell for $31,362, an amount that will reimburse the municipality for the environmental assessment completed to ensure the site is suitable for residential construction.

According to Habitat for Humanity representatives, the organization is exploring the possibility of developing multi-unit ownership housing, which would allow local families to achieve homeownership at a time when rising housing costs have made buying a home increasingly difficult.

The County and Habitat for Humanity are currently working toward finalizing the land transfer along with a Memorandum of Understanding, with more detailed plans anticipated in the coming weeks.

Habitat for Humanity operates on a “hand up, not a handout” model, where partner families contribute sweat equity by helping build their own homes. Once completed, families repay the cost through a long-term, no-interest mortgage, making ownership attainable for those who might otherwise be priced out of the market.

The application process for Habitat housing can take several months, and from approval to construction completion, the wait for a home can extend to two years or longer.

Recent Habitat builds in the region have taken place in Belleville, Trenton, and Tyendinaga. The most recent Habitat home constructed in Picton was completed in 2014.

Historically, all Habitat for Humanity homes in Prince Edward County have been located in Picton, including builds on West Mary Street, Barker Street, and York Street.