The impact on Canadian communities is huge when two organizations working to improve housing affordability connectivity gangs.
Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC) recently established a partnership with UN-Habitat Canada to bring together two national organizations of complementary value into efforts toward a common cause and provide mortgage brokers with a highly visible way to enhance the image of the communities they serve.
“Obvious [alignment] It’s the housing side, but what really compells to our committee and the board as a whole is a sense of community,” said Maxime Stencer, the upcoming MPC board chairman. “Habitat really illustrates the embodiment of these people, people are blending together from life in all walks of life, with the shared goal of helping the community. ”
As part of the new partnership, MPC has committed to reaching its $100,000 fundraising target within two years and organized volunteers to assist in the construction of 10 homes across Canada.
Finding a business broker can fall behind
Stank said the search for nonprofit partners began last year after the restructuring efforts made the organization’s former external charitable foundations restructuring work.
“We ask board members to provide us with the idea of charitable partners based on certain criteria that match the mission, values and vision of the MPC, and habitats are recommended by board members,” he said. “We also want an organization that exists in every province, so the national habitat scope is closely related to the scope of the national MPC.”
Stencer explained that when everyone knows the organization, they continue to find more similarities. Both, for example, focus on the challenge of affordable home ownership in Canada, are volunteer LEDs, have a record of celebrating the contribution of female members and tend to be friendly competition to maximize the use of participants.
“For agents across Canada, it’s very important to give back to their community, and it’s a way to give back in a very obvious way,” he added. “We’re picking up the hammer, we’re picking up the saw and the community will see that the mortgage brokers actually give back; not only their wallets, but also taking time and energy.”
The MPC Board is seeking an organization with a strong reputation and a strong track record in Canada.
“It’s also very interesting,” Stencer added. “It brings people together, they’re happy, they’re proud of their work. That’s all about the mortgage industry; everyone is working hard, but they’re working hard, too.”
Two organizations, one mission
While many human habitats are related to their housing construction projects in developing countries, the Canadian sector of global organizations is committed to supporting those in need at home.
“Canadian Habitat Canada offers Canadians the opportunity to buy their first home, build equity and build a better future,” said Pedro Barata, president and CEO of UN-Habitat Canada. “We are particularly focused on individuals and families who face significant obstacles to being able to come up with a down payment.”
Barata added that while low-income public sector housing projects in Canada emphasize affordable rents, UN-Habitat focuses on addressing the housing crisis by increasing ownership opportunities.
“It is understandable that the government will focus on specially built rentals, because it is still difficult to do, but it is not a heavy lifting,” he said. “This leaves a gap that we have to make up now, Canadian mortgage professionals and habitats know that Canadians want to maintain home ownership dreams.”
Barata explains that while increasing affordable rents helps address immediate challenges, habitat is still working on long-term solutions for Canadian families in need.
The organization helps Canadians achieve home ownership by finding ways to reduce purchase costs, and even eliminates down payment requirements completely through various strategies.
“We work very hard to find free or truly affordable land for lower or no cost-effective development costs,” Barata said. “We also look at how to keep construction costs low, such as introducing volunteers and raising funds.”
Through these efforts, habitats provide Canadians with affordable homes that they would otherwise be priced as ownership.
Impact of home ownership
These are more than just anecdotal benefits. In a 2025 economic and social impact study with Deloitte Canada, homeowners in habitat reported a 79% increase in mental health and a 73% increase in physical health. And employment increased by 44%. Half also pointed out that their children’s school performance improved and community participation was higher. 51% said they think it’s financially safer.
On average, households who move into habitat homes earn 28% more than tenants’ income, with Canada’s GDP estimated to be $168 million between 2006 and 2023. Between 2019 and 2023 alone, affordable housing activities in habitats generate $311 million in economic activity, nearly $40 million in taxes, while delivering lasting social gains.
“When you look at the benefits to the local economy, whether it’s increasing the potential for making money due to building a home, that’s really good for the Canadian economy,” Barata said. “You’re not doing this for people; it’s very important for the country and the communities we want to build in Canada.”
Build awareness together
According to its development officer Shahla Habib, the MPC partnership will provide new homes for Canadians in need, but it will also help Canadian habitat gatherings support the work it does in communities across the country.
“To date, universal awareness articles have been an important part of the partnership,” she said, adding that Habitat was invited to talk about its efforts and mission in coast-to-coast regional MPC activities. “The feedback we get from members is very positive. There is a great appetite to figure out what else they can do to help the habitat of the local community.”
Habib added that she was surprised and happy with the speed and enthusiasm of the mortgage industry to support the organization and its mission to bring more affordable housing to Canada.
“They really understand the transformational nature of home ownership and are seeing some of the challenges and obstacles facing families,” she said. “They are really role models for habitat and we are very grateful for everything they have done so far.”
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UN-Habitat Home Ownership Mortgage Professionals Canada MPC Pedro Barata Shahla Habib Volunteering Services
Last modified: August 20, 2025
