Habitat for Humanity GTA is a 2-star charity with Fair Demonstrated Impact. It has an A Results Reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated, 39 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci's reasonable range. 

Founded in 1988, Habitat for Humanity Toronto provides affordable housing in the GTA. Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area (Habitat GTA) formed in 2014 when three Habitat affiliates merged: Habitat Toronto, Habitat Brampton-Caledon, and Habitat York Region. Habitat GTA is one of 45 Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Canada that work toward a nation where everyone has a safe and stable place to live. Habitat GTA states that 60% of GTA residents spend over half their household income on housing and 61% of GTA residents worry about sacrificing basic needs, such as food, clothing, and education to afford rent payments. The charity reports that purchasing a home in the GTA requires a household income of at least $215,920, while the median household income in Toronto is $94,000. Ci calculates that Habitat GTA Habitat GTA spent $12.4m on its program in 2024, although the charity's financial statements do not report how much was spent building homes during the year.

Habitat GTA’s homeownership program provides working low-income families with the opportunity to purchase an affordable home, typically with no down payment required. The charity offers fixed, 20-year mortgages with zero interest and payments capped at 30% of annual household income. After it receives mortgage payments, Habitat GTA reinvests the money into building more houses. To become eligible to buy a house, families must meet Habitat for Humanity’s low-income criteria and contribute 500 hours of “sweat equity” to help build Habitat homes or volunteer at ReStores.

In 2024, 44 families became Habitat homeowners, moving into 44 Habitat homes across five communities in Toronto, Oshawa, and Brampton. The charity housed 153 people through its Homeownership program, of which 75 were children. In 2024, Habitat GTA completed construction on 485 Normandy Street in Oshawa. This building provided 26 affordable ownership homes and 24 affordable rental homes, operated by Durham Region Non-Profit Housing Corporation. Over 90 homes are under construction in 2024.

Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area’s audited financial statements use activity-based costing, which is a best practice. The charity changed its auditor from BDO to KPMG in 2023. The charity’s audited financial statements do not disclose all government funding received. Ci reported government funding from its T3010 filing with the CRA and removed the amounts received from donations. The financial statements also do not disclose the amount of money spent building houses during the year. In 2027, Habitat for Humanity GTA's transparency score will be decreased if it maintains this disclosure. 

Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area received $4.6m in donations and $2.5m in government funding in 2024. The charity also received $14.8m from home sales. Ci calculates that Habitat GTA spent $12.4m on its program, which is 51% of revenue (excluding donated goods), and recorded a surplus of $7.4m. Despite this, Habitat GTA still holds more debt than liquid assets.

Habitat GTA spent $2.5m on fundraising, which is 54% of donations, and spent $2.2m on administration, which is 8% of revenue (excluding investment income). Total overhead spending is 61%. For every dollar donated, 39 cents are available to go to the cause, which is outside Ci’s reasonable range. This is the first time in six years that Habitat GTA's overhead spending has been outside of Ci's reasonable range. 

Habitat GTA has ($11.0m) in reserve funds (cash and investments, less interest-bearing debt). This results in a negative program cost coverage ratio, which does not negatively affect the star rating. Excluding interest-bearing debts, the charity’s reserves could cover seven months of its annual program costs.

This report is an update that has been sent to Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area for review.

Updated on July 16, 2025 by Liam Chapleau.