‘They’re too expensive’: CEO of Habitat for Humanity backs up young home buyers
Posted Aug 20, 2025 06:36:24 AM.
Last Updated Aug 20, 2025 11:07:15 AM.
Anyone who has bought a home over the last few years can attest to how hard it is to get into the market, especially for young people.
But Phillip Mills, the CEO of Habitat for Humanity, says the idea that young people are spending their money on frivolous items, like fancy coffees or the latest video game, is outdated.
Speaking on the Mike Farwell Show on Tuesday, Mills said that when it comes to saving, young people are trying as hard as 20 years ago, but that the system has radically changed.
“Back 10-20 years ago, the world was entirely different, and I just think we don’t entirely grasp that,” he said. “People can’t buy a house today, not because they like avocado toast or they have too many streaming services…they can’t afford a house because it’s too expensive.”
Mills notes that the average home in Waterloo Region back in 2000 cost an average of $172,000, while the median household income was around $55,000. The latest update on housing prices in the region found the average price for a home was $735,000. According to data from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the median household income before taxes across Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge was $92,000.
Mills says the community is being set up to fail if solutions are not planned out for the long term, which includes building more housing.
“We’re also fighting the community who says ‘Ah, it’s not that big of a deal because people could afford a house if they really tried,’ but that isn’t true,” said Mills.
“People try so hard; they work multiple jobs and still can’t afford their living. We, as a community, need to accept that, so we can find a long-term solution to it. Otherwise, we’re going to keep fighting this housing battle for years to come.”
