A secured credit card is a good choice for someone who needs to establish or reestablish credit.

To get a mortgage you need to have established credit.  When you have a credit card, the credit card company reports your credit repayment history to the credit bureaus which creates your credit history and a credit score.  You need to establish credit if:

A secured credit card gives you access to credit, just like any other credit card. The only difference is that you need to provide security funds as collateral before you can receive your card and access your credit.

 

With a secured credit card, your payment information gets reported to the credit bureaus. Using your card and making your payments on time gives you the chance to build or rebuild your credit history.

 

Unlike a pre-paid credit card, a secured credit card gives you a credit limit – you don't have to keep reloading it with your own money. With pre-paid credit cards don't give you the chance to build a credit history because no payment information is reported.

 

This is possible though dependant on the card provider and your account performance. Among other things, good account performance includes paying at least your minimum required payment each month on or before the due date. As your good credit history develops, there will likely be other credit card offerings that are more appropriate or offer better value for you.

 

Secured Credit Cards to Consider

Home Trust Secured Visa 
A security deposit of a minimum $500 is required for Home Trust to process the application. If you are pre-bankruptcy discharge, please consider this card after your discharge.  Consumer Proposal applicants require a letter of good standing from their trustee.

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Peoples Trust Credit Builder Secured Mastercard 
A security deposit of a minimum $500 is required for Peoples Trust to process the application 
Note: this product appears to have been was discontinued in 2017

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Capital One Secured Mastercard 
Security funds as low as $75 or $300 to be determined after you're approved.  Credit limit of $300 or more.  $20K minimum household income.