Half of Espanola Habitat for Humanity duplex sold

Espanola has lost half of its affordable Habitat for Humanity property to the open market.
CEO of Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North Kimberley Woodcock says when the Espanola duplex was completed three years ago they were sold to Habitat homeowners at an affordable price and supported by a Habitat mortgage featuring zero down payment, zero interest and geared-to-income monthly payments.
She says the homeowner of 365 Adelaide Street decided last year to sell her home and Woodcock explained Habitat exercised its first right of refusal and purchased the property in late 2019 with the intent of placing another homeowner from Espanola into the home, which has been vacant since then.
However, Woodcock says when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the organization was not able to place another family and had to suspend all its operations on March 18th.
Woodcock explains to survive the financial crisis the organization is facing and to ultimately serve more families in the future, Habitat was forced to sell the home on the open market.
It was sold last month. Woodcock recognizes that the build was supported by charity dollars, in-kind labour and material donations as a way of providing affordable housing in Espanola, but emphasizes they had no choice with no other funding coming in.
She adds this decision does not affect the neighbouring family who continues to reside in and enjoy their Habitat home.