The following is a statement prepared by the Partnership Families who are engaged in a dispute with Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society over changes to the organization’s housing program and that will involve their removal from their Habitat homes:
The Partnership Families moved into their homes under a housing agreement with Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society that would eventually comprise of a 0% mortgage from the organization to cover the purchase of a Habitat home. Many of the Partnership Families are immigrants and refugees, without family ties in Edmonton or a financial safety net; many are racialized; many are not fully fluent in English; all are parents, some of them single parents; some are disabled, some elderly, some unemployed or underemployed. Each family met the criteria Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society set out for joining their program, and believed their housing future to be secure. In the fall of 2019, Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society decided that one way they could service their own organizational debt was to offload it onto the families they helped by changing the housing agreement with each Partnership Family to require 50% of their mortgage to now come from a credit union.
Prior to this unexpected and significant change, Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society would periodically gather the families together to update them on issues related to their housing, which allowed neighbours to translate and work together to understand community issues. But when it came to changing the terms of the mortgage model, Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society decided to go individually to each family to ask them to sign new agreements, despite knowing that many have limited English and are legally unsophisticated, and despite knowing that many would be unable to qualify for mortgages with a local credit union and would ultimately be evicted from their homes. This was the first of many instances in this process where Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society preyed upon the very humanity they profess to serve and protect, using a divide and conquer strategy that time and again perpetuates racial and social injustices.
Remarkably, the Partnership Families organized and obtained legal counsel. It was through this organizing that families came to understand what exactly was being asked of them, and how Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society had mismanaged its organizational finances and with this new mortgage model actually financially benefited from their eviction rather than their continued tenancy.
Over the course of these proceedings, the Partnership Families have been united by their concerns for each other, their housing future, and finding a fair and just solution with Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society. Unfortunately, Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society has not shared these concerns, having to be legally ordered or publicly shamed into delaying the eviction of families during Christmas and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, all while refusing to enter mediation regarding the new mortgage model. The most recent legal action resulted in a court authorizing the removal of the Partnership Families from their homes after July 31, 2020 (but recognized that the Partnership Families had a basis to sue Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society for changing the original agreement), but this was not good enough for Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society. They have once again been approaching families one by one, without legal counsel, or even translators or neighbours to help, to try to get families to drop out of the lawsuit in return for information about how to secure their housing and equity and prevent imminent eviction. They have told families that if they agree to drop out of the lawsuit and leave by June 30, 2020, they can have approximately 75% of the equity savings that is stored in their homes; if they agree to leave by July 31, 2020, they can have approximately 50% of the equity savings that is stored in their homes; and if they refuse to leave they will receive no equity savings that they contributed to and which is stored in their homes and will be evicted from them any time after July 31, 2020. Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society is using the many vulnerabilities of these families, linguistic, financial and social, against them to get them to sign agreements that put the security of the charity above that of the people they profess to help. This is uncharitable, immoral and unethical.
This week, Habitat for Humanity International released a statement condemning the actions of Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society, saying, as the Partnership Families have also argued, that the new mortgage model should only have been applied to incoming families, and that Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society should agree to enter mediation, something the Partnership Families have been open to from the beginning. Now, after months of holding these families in housing and legal limbo, Habitat for Humanity Edmonton says they too are open to entering into mediation, but only “with those [families] who have not determined how they wish to proceed.”
The Partnership Families are ready to engage in a fair and just mediation process, but it cannot be fair and just when Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society will not engage with all of the families because they intimidated some of us, with threats of eviction and loss of equity while our chosen legal counsel was not there, into “determining how we wished to proceed." The mediation process cannot be fair and just when imminent eviction on July 31, 2020, and complete loss of equity hang over the process. At every turn Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society has chosen to use our vulnerability to unstable housing against us in order to maintain power and control in this process, going against their own mission statements, and those of Habitat for Humanity Canada and Habitat for Humanity International. We want to find a fair and just way for all of us to stay in the homes we helped to build. We ask that Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society enter into a fair and just mediation process that includes all the Partnership Families and does not hold imminent eviction and loss of equity over our heads when we come to the table.
The Stories of Partnership Families
Over the past few weeks, Edmontonians and people across Canada and around the world have reached out to learn more about the dispute between the Partnership Families and Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society, including the experience of the families. Below are the experiences of three Partnership Families.
Family #1
Mom and Dad immigrated to Canada from Pakistan and had trouble having their credentials recognized in their new home. They had three young children, and faced difficulties finding stable employment and housing.
Eventually, they came across the housing program offered by Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society, and were accepted in the program and moved into their Habitat home in 2017.
The family worked hard to complete all the obligations that Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society imposed on them, and did so by September 2018, allowing them to purchase their Habitat home at 0% interest rate.
Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society informed the family that they would own their Habitat home shortly, but the organization needed some time to confirm the details. The family trusted Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society, and believed that it would honour the agreement that it had with the family.
In April 2019, the Dad suffers a massive heart attack. Dad can no longer work and is on disability. Mom is responsible for the domestic work in the home, and taking care of the family’s three young children, but now is responsible to care for Dad.
In September 2019, Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society informs Mom and Dad that the housing program is changing, and the family will have to obtain mortgage financing from a bank for half the purchase price of the home. Dad becomes stressed and his health deteriorates, as the family will not be able to qualify for bank financing any longer, as the family’s sole source of income is Dad’s disability supports.
In November 2019, Dad dies suddenly. Mom and the children are in shock.
Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society informs the family that they are ineligible for the new mortgage model because Dad has died and there is no employment income coming into the household. Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society CEO states that while the “circumstances are terribly tragic as she has recently lost her husband,” Mom “is not eligible to be offered a Purchase Agreement by Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society by reason that there is no income earner in her household.”
Family #2
Mom and Dad immigrated to Canada from Somalia and have five children. Their eldest suffers from Corne-De Lung Syndrome, a serious and debilitating condition that causes major physical and cognitive impairments. He is confined to a wheelchair and requires round-the-clock care, and is 100% dependent on others to carry out all basic tasks, such as bathing, dressing, using the washroom, and eating.
The son is extremely ill, and is frequently hospitalized for long durations in the intensive care unit. Mom and Dad know that he can pass away at anytime.
Mom and Dad have to take time off work frequently to be with their son in the hospital, and to take care of their four other children.
The family lives in a two bedroom rental apartment that does not meet the needs of a family of 7, let alone one with a son with serious health and accessibility issues.
Mom and Dad were referred to Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society, where they were immediately accepted into the housing program. Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society promised the family that if they performed their obligations under the program, it would design and build a house for the family that was customized to the needs of their son. This includes a barrier free washroom and hoists to help lift the son to place him in bed or in the shower.
Mom and Dad were elated, and considered what Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society to be a blessing from God. In difficult circumstances, Mom and Dad performed the obligations imposed on the family:
Completing the obligations imposed on my family as a Partnership Family have been extremely difficult given the medical situation of my son over the past few years. My son was in the intensive care unit for 3 months, and we did not know if he would make it.
However, under the Housing Scheme, my family must not only complete 500 hours of sweat equity work for the benefit of Habitat, but complete at least 24 hours a month. For the period of time that my son was in the ICU, I used to spend my time with him, and then rush out to do my sweat equity work to ensure that I never fell behind. I would often leave for my shifts not knowing if I would see my son again. I did it because I knew that the Housing Scheme could transform my family’s life, and I didn’t want to lose the opportunity
Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society designed and constructed a home for the family that met the needs of their son, and incorporated Mom and Dad as part of the design process. The family was scheduled to move into the home during the week of Christmas in December 2019.
However, in November 2019, Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society informed the family that they would not be allowed to move into their home unless the agreed to the new housing program. Mom and Dad pleaded with Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society that they wouldn’t qualify for a bank mortgage, and would not be able to receive the home.
Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society informed the Mom and Dad that it did not care. The only way that the family would receive the home is if Mom and Dad obtained a mortgage for half the value of the home. If they didn’t, they would lose the home and their dream of stable and secure housing.
Family #3
Mom is a survivor of domestic abuse, and is a Black single, working mother with three children under the age of 11.
Mom’s youngest has expressive and receptive language delay, and is high needs and requires constant one-on-one care.
Mom works as an education assistant and earns less than $36,000.00 per year. From what Mom earns, she has to pay for the basic needs of her family, and for specialized day care and supports for her son.
After living in government housing for years, Mom applied to Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society’s housing program in 2017. Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society selected Mom, finding that her experience reflected the struggles that they wanted to help families with by providing them stable, secure housing.
The family moved in to their Habitat home in 2018, and worked hard to perform all of her obligations to be eligible for the no-interest mortgage. By December 2019, Mom had met all the requirements to obtain the mortgage financing promised by Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society.
However, Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society informed Mom that they would not be offering the family the housing model that it initially promised them. Instead, Mom would have to qualify for mortgage financing for half the value of the home. If Mom failed to qualify for the mortgage, she would be removed from the home and the housing program.
Mom does not make enough to qualify for mortgage financing. Mom applied for the bank mortgage and was denied, and Habitat for Humanity – Edmonton Society has informed Mom that she must leave her home with her kids by July 31, 2020.
Mom does not know where she will live after the family is removed from their Habitat home.
Support of BLM YEG
The Partnership Families appreciate the support of Black Lives Matter YEG. It is likely through Black Lives Matter YEG’s advocacy that you have heard about our struggle. This reveals the importance of grassroots, citizen-led support organizations to address issues like our in Edmonton.
For more information Black Lives Matter YEG solidarity work with the Partnership Families, please visit the chapter’s website here.
