Celebrating an advocacy win for affordable homeownership

After years of sustained advocacy, we are pleased to see the federal government step up for working families who want to buy their first home. We applaud the passage of the Bill C-4 and the first-time home buyers' rebate — a measure that will deliver meaningful momentum for affordable homeownership and strengthen the ability of Habitat for Humanity organizations to build more homes where they are needed most.

With this legislation, first-time buyers of new homes valued up to $1 million will receive a 100% GST rebate. Until now, the affordable homes we built for families living with low‑ to moderate‑income were subject to GST — a cost that many local Habitats absorbed to keep homeownership within reach. This has amounted to millions of dollars that could otherwise have been invested directly into building homes.

Creating new pathways to affordable homeownership for families

With the passage of this legislation, local Habitat organizations can invest more in construction, enabling us to build more homes, accelerate projects, and partner with more families in communities across the country. Most importantly, the passage of Bill C‑4 means more parents and children will have the opportunity to access the stability, security, and long‑term benefits that come with owning a home, at a time when homeownership feels increasingly out of reach for many Canadians.

We look forward to building on this momentum as we continue working with government and partners to ensure everyone has a fair chance at a safe, decent place to call home.