A non-profit organization dedicated to helping low-income families own homes has evicted a Kingston, Ont., couple after they fell behind on their payments.

Habitat for Humanity Kingston executive director Sandra Berg confirmed that it is the first time the Kingston affiliate of the international organization has evicted any of its residents.

Police helped the organization ensure that Theresa and Kevin Orr left the home late Tuesday afternoon.

Theresa Orr said she and her husband have lived in the building since 2004, and fell behind on their monthly rent payments due to health problems and a job loss.

But she said she now has a stable job, has paid back what she owes and has been making regular rental payments since 2005, and wants to negotiate with Habitat Kingston.

"You know, we're willing to go to credit counselling, we're willing to make certified cheque payments, we're willing to go a lot of routes to work with them …. However, they're not very eager to work with us."

Berg said she could not comment on specifics due to privacy concerns, but Habitat Kingston has already been negotiating with the Orrs for 18 months and tried credit counselling. She added that in the end, the organization was forced to turn to a housing tribunal, which ruled that the Orrs should be evicted.

Orr said she plans to ask the national office to reverse the decision.

Habitat for Humanity builds houses using volunteer labour and donated money and materials with the help of partner families, who first rent and later buy the house using affordable loans to make mortgage payments.

According to the Habitat for Humanity International website, the organization has built more than 200,000 houses around the world since 1976.

Habitat for Humanity International spokesman Larry Lincoln said in the U.S., less than two per cent of families are ever removed from the homes.