As realtors who have helped many Indigenous families find homes, we wanted to share a program that can make homeownership attainable. If you are an Indigenous person living in Ontario dreaming of owning your own home, the barrier is often saving up for the down payment. Fortunately, the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) Homeownership Program, administered by Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS), is designed to help turn that dream into a reality.
Whether you are looking to buy your first home or need help repairing a home you already own, here’s what you need to know about how this program can support you.
What is the OPHI Homeownership Program?
The OPHI Homeownership Program helps low-to-moderate-income, off-reserve Indigenous renters and first-time buyers purchase affordable homes. The program provides financial assistance of up to 10% of the home’s purchase price to help cover your down payment and closing costs.
The best part? The funding is provided as a forgivable loan. This means that traditional interest is not charged on the assistance, and if you live in the home as your sole and primary residence for 20 years (and maintain valid home insurance), the loan is forgiven in its entirety.
Who is Eligible?
To qualify for the homeownership funding, you must meet a few key criteria:
Indigenous Identity: The primary applicant must self-identify as an Indigenous person (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit). You do not need to provide a status card or proof of identity—self-identification is all that is required.
First-Time Buyer: You must be a renter in Canada buying your first home, and neither you nor your partner can currently own a home or real estate.
Location: You must be purchasing a home off-reserve in Ontario, outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). If you live in or want to buy in the GTA, you will need to apply through the Miziwe Biik Development Corporation instead.
Income Limits: Your combined gross household income must be at or below the 2024 60th income percentile (for a single person) or the 70th income percentile (for two or more people) for your specific city or region.
Mortgage Ready: You must be able to qualify for and obtain a conventional mortgage from a bank or lender.
Note: The program gives priority to individuals escaping situations of domestic violence, people currently residing in social or affordable housing, and renters who are losing their home because their landlord is selling the property.
What Kind of Home Can You Buy?
You can use the funds to buy a resale or newly built home, including detached, semi-detached, townhouses, condominiums, row houses, or even mobile homes (as long as you will also own the land).
The purchase price of the home cannot exceed the average market value for your specific city or region. For example, the maximum purchase price in the City of Greater Sudbury is $486,609, while in the City of Hamilton it is $883,824. Additionally, if you are buying a resale home, a home inspection by a licensed professional is required.
Already Own a Home? The "Ontario Renovates" Component
If you are already a homeowner, OPHI also offers an Ontario Renovates component to help improve your living conditions.
Home Repairs: Low-to-moderate-income Indigenous homeowners can receive a forgivable loan of up to $25,000 to repair their homes to acceptable standards or improve energy efficiency (such as fixing roofs, heating systems, plumbing, or electrical systems). This loan is forgiven over a 10-year period.
Accessibility Modifications: If you are a senior or a person with a disability, you can receive up to $5,000 as a grant (which does not require repayment) to make accessibility modifications like installing ramps, handrails, or chair lifts.
Application Process
Get Pre-Qualified: Because you must secure a mortgage, start by visiting a financial institution or lender to get a mortgage pre-qualification letter.
Gather Your Documents: You will need two pieces of photo ID, your Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency, and recent pay stubs or proof of income for everyone in the household over age 18.
Application & Details: Find all of the details and complete the OPHI Homeownership application on the ontarioaboriginalhousing.ca website. For more information, or to get help with your application, you can reach out to the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services directly at 1-866-391-1061 ext. 816.
Just starting the home buying process? We are here to help, and can recommend some local mortgage brokers as well. Contact us and let’s get you started.