Photo courtesy of: Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region
Three local families are one step closer to owning an affordable home after Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region officially broke ground on three new homes in Norwood.
The three single-family, three-bedroom homes will provide local families with the opportunity to purchase a home through Habitat PKR’s affordable homeownership program, which offers no down payment and a geared-to-income mortgage.
The homes are being designed with energy-efficient construction, universal design features and spacious outdoor areas intended to support family life. They are expected to be completed and ready for the new homeowner families by the winter of 2026-2027.
As housing costs continue to rise across Ontario, Habitat PKR says affordable homeownership remains out of reach for many hardworking families.
Susan Zambonin, CEO of Habitat PKR, says these homes represent much more than just new construction.
“A healthy community isn’t defined only by who moves in. It’s also defined by who has the opportunity to stay,” said Zambonin. “Across Peterborough, the Kawarthas, and Haliburton County, we meet families every day who are contributing to their communities, raising children, building careers, and doing everything they can to move forward.”
Zambonin says many families are finding the dream of homeownership increasingly difficult to achieve.
“Yet for many, homeownership feels further away than ever,” she said. “These homes are about more than putting up walls, they’re about creating stability, opportunity, and ensuring young families can continue living, working, and investing in communities like Norwood.”
The project was made possible in part through financing provided by Peterborough County through its new Open Door initiative, which supports affordable homeownership opportunities across the county.
Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark says partnerships like this help strengthen rural communities.
“Peterborough County is proud to partner with Habitat on this first Open Door project in Norwood,” said Clark. “Projects like this create opportunities for families to achieve homeownership while strengthening the fabric of our rural communities.”
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together community members, including Warden Clark, Asphodel-Norwood Mayor Patrick Wilford, donors, volunteers, trade partners and supporters who helped make the project possible.
A display featuring an architectural rendering of one of the future homes, designed by Marshall Design Studios, also highlighted the personal impact of the project. The drawing was coloured by future homeowner Nora, 8, alongside her own illustration of her family.
Habitat PKR says the Norwood project was made possible through the support of numerous community partners, including Crowley Farms, which donated the land, as well as Alf Curtis Home Improvements, Plumbing by Doug, R&M Smith Contracting and Lifestyle Home Products.
Habitat for Humanity says affordable homeownership can have benefits that extend beyond housing. Recent research from Habitat for Humanity Canada and Deloitte found that 80 per cent of Habitat homeowners would not have become homeowners without the organization’s support, while many reported improvements in financial security, employment, education, health and overall well-being after purchasing their homes.
Habitat PKR says these three homes will help ensure local families have the opportunity to live, work and build their futures in rural communities like Norwood.
