One more family has realized their dream of homeownership thanks to HOAP, the Home Ownership Affordability Partnership. The official key ceremony took place Wednesday, August 29 at the home on Tragina Ave. in Hamilton.
“This is our eleventh HOAP home,” said HOAP Chair Tim Mattioli, “and the pride and satisfaction we get from helping deserving families move into their own homes never gets stale. On behalf of the partners of HOAP, I wish our latest HOAP family many years of happiness in their home.”
HOAP is a partnership of the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington, Scotiabank and the City of Hamilton. The HOAP program is a unique solution to affordable housing in our community. The concept is simple: HOAP help families currently residing in social housing rental units who have the desire and financial means to own an affordable home.
Each of the HOAP partners plays a role in the process. The City of Hamilton helps identify families who might qualify for the program; a representative from Scotiabank works with the families to help them determine if they can afford a home; a REALTOR® assists the family to locate a home that meets their needs – usually a home in need of repair – and HOAP makes the arrangements for and funds the renovations required to make the property safe, clean and up to code.
As a result of the HOAP program and the 11 projects to date, more than just the HOAP families have benefitted from the program. As a family moves into their new home, another family is able to move into their vacated social housing unit. Neighbourhoods also benefit as aging homes are renovated and other families are inspired to repair and renovate their homes.
HOAP received generous assistance from other community members on this project: Stephen Frankel of Frankel Law Offices donated legal services; Ann Forbes Arndt of Homelife Macro Realty Inc. donated real estate services; Ernie Mallozzo of Lighthouse Inspections Hamilton donated his time and expertise as a home inspector; the Ontario REALTORS® Care Foundation provided funding as did the REALTORS® Association of Hamilton-Burlington Charity Golf Tournament. Gord Miller of Gord Miller Renovations performed the renovations. A special thank you is extended to all participants in this project.